Gilbert, W.S. (1836-1911)
The Pirates of Penzance - SIGNED Libretto
London: Chappell & Co.. 1880. First edition, later variant issue. A highly uncommon signed libretto from the English dramatist and librettist best known for his 14 comic operas written in collaboration with composer Arthur Sullivan. 32 pp. Boldly signed "W. S. Gilbert" in brown ink at the head of the title page. Original fragile printed paper wrappers slightly chipped but generally in remarkably well preserved condition with scattered foxing throughout. With no copyright statement and with page 13 (third from last line), showing the Major-General as the very "pattern of a modern Major-General," later changed to "model." These points suggest the text block to be an issue of the first edition, though the wrappers - advertising Ivanhoe - must have been printed later. Perhaps the publisher was using old stock of the text while supplying new wrappers? PAL6a. Fuld, p. 257.Presentation copies of from Gilbert are very scarce - when found, they are typically inscribed "with the compliments of the author" and the present truly signed copy is a rarity indeed. We did not find a record of any signed libretto of a major Gilbert & Sullivan work on the market for at least 30 years.
The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The opera's official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 December 1879, where the show was well received by both audiences and critics. Its London debut was on 3 April 1880, at the Opera Comique, where it ran for a very successful 363 performances, having already been playing successfully for over three months in New York. Pirates was the fifth Gilbert and Sullivan collaboration and introduced the much-parodied Major-General's Song. (7603)
Signed Document/Item Theater