POLITICAL PAPERS. A collection of the letters and documents of D. J. MACDONALD, 1922-1939, comprised

POLITICAL PAPERS. A collection of the letters and documents of D. J. MACDONALD, 1922-1939, comprised chiefly of correspondence from Winston CHURCHILL and his private secretary Edward MARSH.

Sir Winston Spencer CHURCHILL. 3 autograph letters signed, 7 typed letters signed and 3 telegrams, including one typed letter signed (‘Winston S. Churchill’) to D. J. Macdonald, 2 Sussex Square, London, 21 November 1922, mentioning a potentially libellous leaflet they suspected was propagated by Edmund Morel [their Labour competitor, and election victor in Dundee, 1922], one page, 4to; further examples mentioning a donation to Macdonald’s campaign by the National Liberal foundation, and later touching on political matters – including Churchill’s presidency of the New Commonwealth Society – with copies of certain of Macdonald’s letters retained; also, a printed Christmas card and a telegram from Clementine Spencer Churchill, arranging a lunch.

Sir Edward MARSH. 32 autograph letters signed and 20 typed letters signed, including an autograph letter signed (‘E. Marsh’) to D. J. Macdonald, n.p. [Whitehall], 21 November 1923, discussing the electoral fates of the Liberal politicial Sir John Pratt in the 1923 General Elections: ‘I can’t exactly say I hope he’ll get in, as I think it only a miracle wd give the Liberals such a majority that they cd form a strong government’, two pages, 8vo; the correspondence spanning from the period immediately after the Dundee election – ‘I can’t help taking pleasure in the falling out of Morel and Scrymgeour [the two election victors]’ – until his retirement, with Marsh confiding he was ‘much looking forward to my freedom!’;

[with:] election ephemera from Macdonald’s campaign in 1922 and related items. David Macdonald’s candidature alongside Churchill during the 1922 General Election in Dundee – both stood as candidates on a National Liberal ticket, both failed to take either of the two seats – marked the beginning of long and cordial correspondences with Churchill and Marsh, with whom Macdonald exchanged letters on matters political, as well as striking up an affectionate friendship with the latter. Although unsuccessful in the 1922 election, industrialist and local politician Macdonald's connection with Marsh – a distinguished civil servant and patron of the arts – endured; Marsh apparently acted on occasion to put forward Macdonald's suggestions for government. In total 86 items (occasionally soiled or tattered).



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