The Autobiography complete set all signed by Harold Macmillan first editions

The Autobiography [comprising Winds of Change, The Blast of War, Tides of Fortune, Riding the Storm, Pointing the Way and At the End of the Day] 
London: Macmillan, 1966-1973
 
8vo., 6 vols; original brick red publisher’s cloth, lettered and lined in gilt to spine, upper edges red and black respectively; each with yellow endpapers showing tables of dates and events in calendar format; together in the photographic dustwrappers, the first volume white, the others in black, Vol I clipped with overlaid price sticker, and price covered with black marker to rear flap; the others intact; with copious black and white photographs from the author’s life throughout, most volumes with frontis, as well as an index to each volume and various appendices; in far superior condition to those often found, Vol I sunned along backstrip extending to panels; some overall light shelfwear, marking and scratches to edges of text block; pages with some light even toning; a couple of the wrappers a little scuffed at head with some small nicks; Vol V with a closed tear at foot of spine, repaired internally with tape; a very uptogether set. 
 
First editions all, with each volume signed by the author to the title page without dedication. 
 
A lengthy and comprehensive series which details the life, lessons and experiences of Harold Macmillan. Born in February 1894, Macmillan was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963. Seriously injured during the First World War, he suffered from pain and immobility for the remainder of his life, but none of that stopped him from rising to the highest ranks of office under Churchill, first serving as Foreign Secretary and then Chancellor of the Exchequer under Anthony Eden. In the UK, he was responsible for restoring economic order and social stability still impacting Britain after the Second World War, and internationally he helped to develop stronger bonds with the USA, as well as ending National Service and facilitating the decolonisation of Africa. He resigned in 1963 after the Vassall Tribunal and the Profumo affair, though he remained a member of the House of Lords for many years after. 
 
Macmillan had joined the family publishing company after the First World War, and after his retirement he returned both to take up the Chairmanship, and compose his autobiography. The resulting work was this six volume set, which even his biographer claimed was “heavy going”. Volume One begins in 1914 and traces the young Macmillan through his Oxford education, through to the Western Front, ending with his career shift into politics. The second covers the period of the Second World War, the third 1945-1955, the fourth beginning with his appointment as Chancellor of the Exchequer (with a notable omission of any detailed explanation of the Suez Crisis) and his appointment as Prime Minister, the penultimate covering the years of 1959-1961, and the final ending in 1963. 
 
A near fine set with all volumes signed without dedication by Macmillan to the title page.