Description:

Harold Wilson Signed Copy of Bagehot's "The English Constitution" Personally Used When Oxford Poli. Sci. Student

A hardcover copy of Walter Bagehot, "The English Constitution" (Oxford University Press, Humphrey Milford, "The World's Classics" edition, 1928), signed by Harold Wilson (1916-1995), then a university student and future Prime Minister of Great Britain, as "J.H. Wilson. / Jesus. / 1935." on the front loose endpaper. With green cloth binding and gilt-embossed spine. The volume was previously owned by one "R.G. Freene Esq. / Saunderites / Charterhouse / Godalming" (inscribed on the front pastedown endpaper) and is hand-stamped "Parker & Son, Ltd. / English & Foreign Booksellers / 27 Broad Street Oxford" near the bottom edge of the same. With numerous manuscript notations, underlines, and other marginalia found throughout, with some apparent instances where Wilson crossed out the previous owner's comments. Minor isolated wear to the spine and expected corner rubbing. The inner pages, although in some areas heavily annotated, are in mostly clean, near fine condition. 312pp. 4" x 6.125" x .75."

"The English Constitution," by British political essayist Walter Bagehot (1826-1877), has been considered one of the classic texts on modern British political science since its publication in book form in 1867. In such chapters as "The Cabinet," "The Monarchy," "The House of Lords," and "The House of Commons," Bagehot provides a pithy summary and trenchant analysis of the history and mechanics of the British monarchy, Parliament, and Constitution. Limitations to the text are acknowledged by modern readers today, but it still remains an irrefutable part of the British canon.

Harold Wilson read Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Jesus College at the University of Oxford from 1934-1937. Jesus College had been established by royal charter in 1571 as a preparatory school for clerics, though its curriculum today is secular and interdisciplinary. Wilson, a grammar school student from a middle class family in Yorkshire, had received several grants and stipends permitting him to attend university. (His economic background probably explains his buying a used book, one formerly owned by a public boarding school student from Charterhouse in Godalming, Surrey.) By all accounts, Wilson was a brilliant student, and he excelled at his academic coursework. He received a First Class Bachelor of Arts degree from Jesus College in 1937, becoming one of the youngest Oxford dons at age 21. He served as a lecturer and research fellow at Oxford before entering politics as a Member of Parliament in 1945.

Lord Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, was a British Labour Party career politician who twice served as Prime Minister, the first time from 1964-1970, and the second time from 1974-1976. Wilson's tenure and influence in Parliament extended nearly 40 years, from 1945-1983. One can only imagine how Bagehot's seminal text "The English Constitution" refined Wilson's natural political acumen.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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