WINSTON CHURCHILL,
SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH
TO JOSEF STALIN

A matte black and white mounted photograph of Winston Churchill. Signed and inscribed on the mount: "From his Friend Winston S. Churchill, September 1944 To Marshal & Premier Stalin who at the head of the Russian Armies & of the Soviet Government broke the main strength of the German military machine & helped us all to open paths to Peace, Justice & Freedom."

At the time of the signing, September 1944, Germany's defeat was in sight. Churchill returned to London in late September 1944 after being located in North America for the Second Quebec Conference. Two weeks later, Churchill met with Stalin and other Soviet and U.S. leaders during the Fourth Moscow Conference, which was probably when Stalin received this item. However, the backside of this photograph reads: "This photograph was inscribed by the P.M. for Stalin, but it was then found that the silver frame for which it was destined obscured the inscription. He, therefore, rewrote it on another photograph and gave me this one. JRC". Meaning that this signed and inscribed photograph was never given to Stalin but instead to Churchill's private secretary, Sir John Colville.

This is arguably one of the most spectacular signed materials related to the Second World War. An inscribed photograph from and to one of the "Big Three" (Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt) is incredibly significant!

Size: Approximately 11 x 14 in. / 28 x 35 cm.

Condition: Very good condition, somewhat creased margins.

Provenance: Sir John Colville; Private collection, USA. Letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA. Letter of authenticity from Alexander Bitar History.