PRESENTATION COPY FROM ISAAC ROSENBERG’S SISTER: Poems by Isaac Rosenberg

Inscribed first edition of Rosenberg’s collected poems, a volume which was published after the poet’s death on the western front in the last months of the First World War. As a posthumously published work, there can never be a copy inscribed in the author’s hand, adding to the allure of this volume. Rosenberg’s youngest sister Rachel Lyons, nee Rosenberg, has written on the front pastedown: ‘22/8/62 To Dr S Sacks with compliments from (Mrs) Ray Lyons (Sister) of the poet Isaac Rosenberg. Killed in the first World War 1914-1918.’

Black cloth binding, dried staining around the top of the binding; paper label to spine. Small patch of paper decay in the middle of the top edge of the text block running through the first dozen leaves. Otherwise a very good copy in a jacket which is in good condition, rubbing to edges and corners; browning to spine, weakness along the hinge between the upper cover and spine of the jacket. Earlier bookseller’s receipt from laid in.

Isaac Rosenberg (1890-1918), the son of Lithuanian Jewish immigrants was born into poverty in Bristol, grew up in London and enlisted in 1916, dying on 1st April, 1918 during the German spring offensive. Rosenberg had six siblings: Minnie, Isaac, Annie, Rachel, Elkon and David. His sisters were particularly important to him, both in life and death: Annie Rosenberg (later Wynick) typed and distributed his poems and managed his copyright after his death; Minnie looked after him in during a visit to south Africa and Rachel Lyons was still proudly presenting her brother’s work 45 years after his death.