Private Library of Former UK Prime Minister Anthony Eden to Auction

A large part of former Prime Minister Anthony Eden's personal library goes under the hammer on July 13 at Bellmans including many volumes with detailed annotations by him.

The private library of the man who became the 1st Earl of Avon and his second wife Clarissa (Winston Churchill's neice) offers an insider's insight into 20th century world politics since his notes in the books in both ink and pencil provide us with his views not only on the situation under disussion, but also its author. 

"It has been a rare privilege and an education for me to discover more about Anthony Eden through his book collection," said Nicholas Worskett, Bellmans' book specialist, "and to find so many books with his annotations which are often surprising for their candour, revealing the off-duty, unofficial statesman. Every book tells you something about its owner, but rarely, as here, do they provide a unique and compelling insight into momentous world events. There was a great deal more to Anthony Eden than the elegantly-attired Prime Minister who resigned over the Suez Crisis, which is how people tend to remember him."

Highlights include:

* John W. Wheeler-Bennett's Munich. Prologue to Tragedy, a 1948 first edition presentation copy inscribed, "For Anthony Eden, with warmest best wishes and very many thanks, John W. Wheeler-Bennett, May, 1948". Commenting on Sir Nevile Henderson, British Ambassador to Germany from 1937-39, Eden writes, "Disastrous man and disloyal to me (estimate £700-1,000)

* a first edition of the Report to the Combined Chiefs of Staff by the Supreme Allied Commander South-East Asia 1943-1945 by Louis 'Dickie' Mountbatten, 1st Earl of Burma, a presentation copy inscribed, "To Anthony, in memory of his very gallant son, from Dickie" (estimate £500-800) 

* Winston Churchill's The World Crisis (London: Thornton Butterworth Limited, 1923-31) featuring his armorial bookplate (estimate £500-£800). Among the annotations is this on p. 270, commenting on a quote from then Prime Minister Herbert Asquith's telegram to the Commander-in-Chief Grand Fleet of August 24 1914 ("We have not entered the business [i.e. of going to war] without resolve to see it through and you may be assured that our action will be proportioned to the gravity of the need"): "Gas bag!"