The unclued lights (two of two words, and the rest paired) are of a kind.
 

Across

1    Book with smears around comments on jackets (6)
7    Fashions in stationers (6)
11    Made supple, brewing old-time ale (10)
14    US novelist left out, downstairs (5)
15    Wife and marine attacked telegraph fitter (7)
17    One of England’s winners in Moscow — or loss! (7)
18    Articles on Monteverdi’s first choral work (6)
19    Tax is small on poet’s little home (4)
22    Boy rejecting green and gold in France (6)
24    Jumpers touched, we’re told, by president (9)
25    Short film translator leaves passenger plane (5)
26    Athenian cavalry commander thrice cut these groups of languages (5)
28    One vehicle, one in the rear, at first, 48 hours ago in France (9, hyphened)
30    Heartless Dr Who actor who’s rented? (6)
33    Some laid aside Ethiopian slave in opera (4)
36    Flautist from county or region — look out! (6)
39    20 and 23 endlessly spilling wine (7)
40    Round and round and round! (7)
41    Pros leaving on purpose, worried when ahead (5, hyphened)
43    Aged Louise badly misspelt doctrinaire visionaries (10)
44    Hearty celebrant lost his head at festival (6)
45    Black Country conurbation suspicious about the French (6)
 

Down

1    Live, died and lived in South Wales village (6)
2    This African stork comes from the shadow, changing note (5)
4    19’s reproof by east London Square (6)
5    Smiling, 23, worried about Norris, at first (5)
7    Setter wandering in the theme? (6)
8    Imagined one having Laotian money, indeed! (7)
10    Stranded tree observed by you once? Right! (6)
12    Understood university lecturer’s function and character first (10, two words)
16    Rambling, shocked Corinth, seen topless (10)
27    Process outfit in court? (7)
29    Arrogance’s height displayed by French writer (7)
35    Edited Times articles (5)
37    The public circled, reportedly (5)
38    Table de communion en Haute-Lorraine (5)
 
A first prize of £30 for the first correct solution opened on 6 August. There are two runners-up prizes of £20. (UK solvers can choose to receive the latest edition of the Chambers dictionary instead of cash — ring the word ‘dictionary’.) Entries to: Crossword 2368, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.