CIDER WITH ROSIE

First edition, first printing. Inscribed association copy. Publisher's original green cloth with gilt lettering to the spine, in dustwrapper. Illustrated with line drawings by John Ward. A very good copy, the binding square and firm with a little bumping at the spine tips and corners, the cloth and gilt bright and fresh. The contents are clean throughout and without previous owner's inscriptions or stamps, the closed edge of the text block is a little toned and spotted. Complete with the lightly rubbed and nicked dustwrapper which is a little toned at the flap edges. Not price-clipped (18s net to the front flap).

Inscribed by Laurie Lee in blue ink on the half title "To Norman and Jillie / with love / from / Laurie / Nov. 59". The recipients are the British portrait painter Norman Hepple and his wife Jillian. The Hepple family were close friends of Laurie and Kathy Lee, Norman and Laurie having met in the 1940s (probably at the Chelsea Arts Club where both were members). Genuine presentation or association copies of Cider With Rosie are scarce.