Lot 385
Churchill, Sir Winston & Gibson, John
Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographs
Auction: 16 January 2008 at 11:00 GMT
Description
A collection of 22 documents relating to the position of John Gibson as Sir Winston Churchill's footman / valet, including a photograph of Winston Churchill standing with horse outside Chartwell, with inscription "Taken at Chartwell, 1948, Mr Churchill wearing my tie which he borrowed, John Gibson"; a signed photograph of Mrs Clementine Churchill; three typed letters signed from Churchill's private secretary [Penelope Hampden Wall] offering the position of footman to Mr Gibson in Spring 1948; telegram confirming Mr Gibson's appointment dated May 10th 1948; invitation for The Rt. Hon and Mrs Winston Churchill for dinner at Claridges with the Shahinshah of Iran, dated 29th July 1948 [accepted]; a typed note of two days of Churchill's engagements dated 20th August 1948; typed list of Churchill's engagements dated October 21st 1948; a list of five guests with notes for a parliamentary luncheon No. 19 November 4th; a typed list of requests for John Gibson from E.G. dated 14th November 1948; a typed letter signed from Mrs C. Churchill relating to Mr Gibson's promotion to Mr. Churchill's footman-valet dated 25th November 1948; two facsimile letters from Churchill with thanks for birthday wishes, November 30th 1949 and November 30th 1953 with another undated; telegram from Winston Churchill "thank you so much", dated 1st December 1950; typed letter signed from Churchill's Private Secretary [Cecily Gemmel] apologising for the lack of current vacancies dated 30th October 1951; telegram from Winston Churchill sending thanks, dated 1 December 1951; two facsimile letters from Churchill sending Christmas thanks, with postmarked envelope, dated 25 December 1951 and 1953 respectively; two photocopied pages from a A4 diary showing the Churchill's movements in London from July 19th to August 15th 1948 (22)