Pygmalion and Galatea. An Entirely Original Mythological Comedy. In Three Acts.
London: [Privately Printed by] Judd & Co., 1872.
Privately-printed uncorrected proof of the first edition of W.S. Gilbert's blank verse play. Presentation copy inscribed by the author to the Bishop of Limerick (then George Butler) on the front cover "With the author's compliments." Additionally inscribed by Gilbert on the title page "(Uncorrected proof)" and with authorial corrections to the text on pages 23 - 24. 40 pp., interleaved with blank sheets. Bound in publisher's printed wraps. Good+ with moderate wear, toning, and soiling to covers. Spine reinforced with rice paper, repaired tear to front cover, dampstain to covers at head of spine. Light toning and scattered foxing to contents, first 16 pages detached. Housed in a quarter morocco custom chemise slipcase, raised bands and gilt lettering to spine, extremities rubbed, lacking ribbon pull. W. S. Gilbert's romantic comedy Pygmalion and Galatea, based on Ovid's tale of a sculptor who falls in love with the statue he has created, opened at the Haymarket Theatre in London in December 1871. It was a popular and critical success and ended up netting Gilbert around 40,000 pounds, an enormous sum at the time. By Jane Stedman's count, the happy playwright distributed just eighteen of these privately printed scripts, sending them to members of the Haymarket company and to his personal friends. One of them unfortunately fell into the hands of the press, and an implied insult to the actors of a previous play brought on a libel suit, which was ultimately dropped. A fragile survival, especially scarce signed; six OCLC listings found in a recent search.
Price: $28,000