Laurie Lee

A first edition, first printing of Cider with Rosie, by Laurie Lee, the libel case copy.

• Laurie Lee (English).
• London: Hogarth Press, 1959.
• In the wrapper.

This copy, was sent on New Year's Eve 1959 by publishers Hogarth Press to the eminent 'publishing specialist' lawyer Michael Rubinstein when they realized they had - courtesy of Laurie Lee's 'creative memory' - a libel case to answer, given the story about the fire at the Piano Works on page 272. The case was ultimately heard in the High Court on 18 July 1960 and resulted in Lee himself paying substantial libel damages, and the libelous words and passages in the book being amended or deleted in subsequent printings.

As such, Rubinstein's own 'specimen copy' is the original 'damning evidence' on which the case rested. It is complete with the original memo sent by the publisher with the book, which Rubinstein tipped in and saved.

The handwritten note on Hogarth Press headed paper is addressed to Michael Rubinstein Esq. and invites him to 'see pp.272 and 273' which were Lee's offending passages. It confirms that copies had also been sent to other lawyers Oswald Hickson of Oswald Hickson, Collier & Co. and Mears Bartlett & Sons, both firms known to specialize in literary cases. It is signed off, perhaps with a touch of irony, 'Happy New Year'! Rubinstein also took on other famous cases - he acted for 'disgraced spy' Anthony Blunt and also for Penguin Books in the D. H. Lawrence Lady Chatterley's Lover obscenity case. Exceptionally rare and a genuine collector’s piece.