An original Second World War press photograph of British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill receiving presentation of Canada's Victory Torch on 1 July 1941

London: Copyright by N. P. A. Rota, supplied by Graphic Photo Union, published by The Daily Telegraph, 1941. Photograph. This original Second World War press photograph shows British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill on 7 January 1941 accepting presentation of Canada’s “Victory Torch” at 10 Downing Street. Churchill’s countenance in profile in this image is noteworthy for being particularly crisp, with him looking down, smoke curling up from the end of the lit cigar clenched between his teeth, as the Canadian dignitary looks on.

The gelatin silver print is on glossy photo paper measuring 10 x 8 in (25.4 x 20.32 cm). The condition is very good with a clean, crisp appearance, light wear confined to the white margins. The verso features an oval ink stamp attributing the copyright to “N. P. A. ROTA” and indicates that the image was “SUPPLIED BY GRAPHIC PHOTO UNION”. A second ink stamp confirms that the image was “RECEIVED” by The Daily Telegraph Art Department on “1 July 1941”. An original typed caption tipped onto the verso is titled “PRESENTATION OF CANADA’S “VICTORY TORCH” TO THE PRIME MINISTER AT NO 10 DOWNING STREET.” The caption text reads: “Canada’s ‘Torch of Victory’ which arrived in England on Saturday last was brought by air [xx] to this country by Mr Ian Mackenzie, Canadian Minister of Pensions. The torch which passed through the Dominions chief cities to arouse interest in the Canadian War Loan was this afternoon presented by Mr Mackenzie to the Prime Minister. P.S. [Ian Mackenzie crossed out] Mr Winston Churchill reading the roll of the names of Mayors which was sent over in the torch. I/7/41.” In two places the typed caption is hand-emended.

This press photo once belonged to the working archive of The Daily Telegraph. During the first half of the twentieth century, photojournalism grew as a practice, fundamentally changing the way the public interacted with current events. Newspapers assembled expansive archives, including physical copies of all photographs published or deemed useful for potential future use, their versos typically marked with ink stamps and notes providing provenance and captions. Photo departments would often take brush, paint, pencil, and marker to the surface of photographs themselves to edit them before publication. Today these photographs exist as repositories of historical memory, technological artifacts, and often striking pieces of vernacular art.