Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee (1959 First Edition, First Impression, First Issue)

Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee is one of the celebrated works of twentieth-century English autobiographical literature, capturing the author’s childhood in the Gloucestershire countryside during the years following the First World War. First published by The Hogarth Press in 1959, the book evokes a rural world undergoing profound change as traditional village life gradually encounters the modern age.

This is the desirable 1959 First Edition, First Impression, First Issue of Cider with Rosie published by The Hogarth Press, London, with drawings by John Ward. Of particular bibliographical importance is the presence on page 272 of the original piano-works passage, which was suppressed in subsequent copies following objections concerning Lee’s description of fires at the piano factory.

Cider with Rosie is bound in the publisher’s green cloth with bright gilt lettering and decorative detail to the spine. It retains its original John Ward-designed dust jacket, which is particularly important to the collectability of the book. The jacket remains unclipped with the original 18s net price present.

A collectable example of Laurie Lee’s best-known work, retaining both its original dust jacket and the notable first-issue textual point.

Condition – Near Fine hardcover in moderately worn original dust jacket

The green cloth hardcover is in near fine condition with bright gilt spine lettering. Internally the book remains well preserved, with foxing present. The original unclipped dust jacket shows moderate to considerable wear, including rubbing, surface loss, edge wear, creasing and chipping, with small areas of loss particularly around the spine ends and extremities. The original 18s net price remains intact on the front flap. Please refer to the photographs for the jacket’s condition.