End portion of a cigar, measuring 2.25? in length, presented to Sir George Elliston by Prime Minister Winston Churchill during a meeting at 10 Downing Street in early January 1954. Included with the cigar is a TLS signed “Yours sincerely, Winston S. Churchill,” one page, 7.5 x 9.5, Prime Minister letterhead, January 8, 1954. The letter, which makes reference to the very meeting that Churchill would present to Elliston the offered cigar, reads in full: “I should be greatly honoured by the suggested memorial in the Guildhall and it would give me great pleasure to receive Mr. Walker and yourself at Downing Street next week. I expect to be there on Tuesday and will, if I may, suggest a time to you a little later.” Churchill adds the salutation in his own hand, “Dear Sir George.” In overall fine condition.Accompanied by the original mailing letter, a transcribed copy of the original letter sent from Elliston, and a provenance letter, which reads: “This is the end of a cigar presented to George Sampson Elliston at 10 Downing Street by Sir Winston Churchill and smoked during an interview between the two to decide upon the sculptor for the statue of Sir Winston in Guildhall which was originally conceived and proposed by Sir George Elliston. This interview was the last official business undertaken by Sir George before his death.”On June 21, 1955, the Lord Mayor of London unveiled Oscar Nemon’s brilliant statue of Sir Winston Churchill in London's stunning Guildhall, which contains but only a handful of memorials to significant British figures; in addition to Churchill, the building holds statues honoring Pitt the Elder, Pitt the Younger, Admiral Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, and William Beckford. A selection of Churchill’s speech at the event: ‘I regard it as a very high honour that the City of London should decide to set up a statue of me in this famous Guildhall, which I have so often visited and spoken in during the last half century. I must admit that I think that the House of Commons has made a good rule in not erecting monuments to people in their lifetime. But I entirely agree that every rule should have an exception. The fact that you have done so in my case will both prove the rule, and emphasize the compliment. I greatly admire the art of Mr. Oscar Nemon whose prowess in the ancient realm of sculpture has won such remarkable modern appreciation. I also admire this particular example, which you, my Lord Mayor, have just unveiled, because it seems to be such a very good likeness.'Format: Cigar Butt and Letter