In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg, then stir in the molasses. Combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt; stir into the molasses mixture.
Roll dough out onto a lightly floured surface about 1/4 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.