OPERAS

Firmly written out, evidently in response to a request for an autograph, on one side of a 10.5 x 11.5 cm piece of paper. In fair condition, lightly aged and spotted, with two folds and group of tiny pinpricks at bottom left. Reads: '”Bother the Flowers that Bloom in the Spring! | Mikado | Your's [sic] faithfully | Geo: Grossmith'. Grossmith's bold signature anachronistically exhibits the 'long s', making his surname look like 'Gropmith'. Grossmith was the original 'Ko-Ko', in the 1885 Savoy Theatre production of 'The Mikado'. It was one of nine Gilbert and Sullivan characters which he created.

1p., 12mo. On a piece of grey paper. In fair condition, lightly aged, folded, and with minor traces of mount on reverse. Reads: 'Dear Teget: | Come on Friday night by all means. The Italian Hercules is bona fide, as far as I can judge, & I shall be glad to have him examined.' After a career in journalism, Hollingshead managed the Alhambra Theatre, and was later the first manager of the Gaiety. He brought Gilbert and Sullivan together in 1871 to produce their first joint work, a musical extravaganza called Thespis. Tegetmeier was natural history editor of 'The Field'.

Printed on both sides of a 21.5 x 28.5 cm piece of thick paper, folded into a 21.5 x 9.5 cm packet, with three panels on the outside and a single page of text within. A nice piece of Savoy Theatre ephemera. Text in purple, with gilt borders, except on the front cover, and with 'The Ancient Arms of the Savoy' in gilt, black, green and orange. In fair condition, lightly aged and ruckled. Two panels of advertisements on the outside, with the programme on the inside also flanked by advertisements.

Piece of paper, c.8.5 x 5cm, pink, regular, faint foxing, mainly good condition, attached to another larger album page (extracted). 17.5 x 11.5, with signatures. WITH: cigarette card, Gilbert & Sullivan series issued by John Player, The Mikado of Japan, partly laid down on same album page, trimmed but good condition, with message as above.

7 x 3cm, some glue staining affecting initial letters, but clear, as follows, "yours sincerely | Arthur Sullivan". On the verso, the following words: "ratified by the Kin[g?] [...] which prompted His [...]", possibly referring to his knighthood in 1883.

One page, 12mo, slightly marked but text cleear and complete. "I must refer you to the publisher, Messrs Routledge, Broadway, London, for a reply to your question." Suitable for framing.

12mo: 1 p. Very good. Reads 'January 1866 | [signed] Jules Benedict'.