CHAMBERLAIN NEVILLE: (1869-1940) British Prime Minister 1937-40. Book signed, being an exceptional presentation ...

CHAMBERLAIN NEVILLE: (1869-1940) British Prime Minister 1937-40. Book signed, being an exceptional presentation copy, a hardback edition of In Search of Peace, published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1939, being a collection of speeches delivered by Chamberlain between May 1937 and May 1939 on the subject of preserving peace in Europe. Signed by Chamberlain to the front free endpaper with a fine inscription, 'To David Margesson, my best friend and truest counsellor in my Parliamentary life, to whom I owe more than I can ever repay, with the affectionate gratitude of Neville Chamberlain'. An excellent association piece. Together with a vintage signed 6 x 8 photograph of David Margesson, the image depicting him standing in a full-length pose in formal attire and holding a cigarette in one hand. Signed in bold blue fountain pen ink to a light area at the base of the image and dated 25th July 1941 in his hand. Lightly laid down. The book lacking the dustjacket and with some very light, minor age wear, VG, 2 David Margesson (1890-1965) 1st Viscount Margesson. British politician, most popularly remembered for his tenure as Government Chief Whip in the 1930s. Margesson protected the appeasement-supporting government of Chamberlain as long as he could, and later served as Secretary of State for War (1940-42) under Winston Churchill. Neville Chamberlain returned from a meeting with Adolf Hitler in Munich on 30th September 1938 and, at the conclusion of a speech made outside 10 Downing Street, declared 'My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time'.