John F. Kennedy — Why England Slept — 1940 First U.S. Edition — Exceptional Rebound Copy in Full Red Goat leather.
Author: John F. Kennedy
Title: Why England Slept
Publisher: Wilfred Funk, New York
Year: 1940
Edition: First U.S. Edition, First Printing
Pages: 252
Format: 8vo, handsomely rebound in full red Cawburn goat with marbled endpapers
📘 Description
An outstanding example of the first American edition of John F. Kennedy’s Why England Slept, the earliest published form of the thesis he completed during his senior year at Harvard. With the encouragement—and considerable influence—of his father, Joseph P. Kennedy, the young future president saw the work issued in both the United States and the United Kingdom, where it became an unexpected commercial success.
The book sold roughly 80,000 copies across both markets, generating about $40,000 in royalties for Kennedy. In a gesture that foreshadowed his lifelong interest in international cooperation, he donated the British royalties to the city of Plymouth, recently devastated by Luftwaffe bombing.
This volume has been expertly rebound for the discriminating collector in full red Cawburn goat leather, paired with hand‑marbled Italian endpapers from J. Hewit & Sons of Edinburgh—a binding that elevates the book far above the typical surviving copies and makes it a standout in any Kennedy or WWII‑era political collection.
✨ Condition
- Near fine overall
- Rebound in full red Cawburn goat leather
- Hand‑marbled Italian endpapers
- Text block shows mild age toning
- A few small creases to several pages
- Clean, tight, and far more attractive than the standard trade binding
A beautifully presented copy—both historically significant and aesthetically distinguished.
🎯 A Cornerstone for Kennedy Collectors
Early Kennedy material is increasingly sought after, and Why England Slept remains one of the most compelling artifacts of his formative political thinking. This finely rebound example offers both scholarly value and display‑worthy craftsmanship, making it ideal for collectors of presidential history, WWII studies, or modern political thought.