DOYLE, Arthur Conan (1859-1930) and James Matthew BARRIE (1860-1937). Jane Annie, or; The Good Conduct Prize. A New and Original English Comic Opera…music by Ernest Ford. Arranged from the full score by King Hall. London: Chappell & Co., [July 1893].
8vo. 3pp. publisher’s ads at end. (Title-page toned at margins). Half crushed levant gilt, marbled sides, spine in 6 compartments with raised bands, gilt-lettering in 2, others with gilt tools, gilt top edge; original green wrappers printed in blue bound in; folding morocco-backed chemise and marbled slipcase. Provenance: Charles Plumptre Johnson (bookplate).
TIPPED-IN WITH THE RARE ORIGINAL CHROMOLITHOGRAPH THEATRE PROGRAM FOR THE PLAY (printed in London by Nassau Steam Press, May 17 1893). FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE with advertisements starting on p. [54]. Muir was unaware of this first issue when he published Points-Second Series, 1866-1934 (London: Constable, 1934) but describes it in detail in Bibliographical Notes and Queries, May 1936, Vol. 2, pp. 6-7. J.M. Barrie sought Conan Doyle’s assistance in the writing of this comic opera (commissioned by Richard D’Oyly Carte) after suffering a nervous breakdown in February 1893. Jane Annie was first performed at the Savoy Theatre on 13 May 1893, and ran until 1 July. The play’s failure inspired Barrie’s’ parody of Sherlock Holmes, “The Adventures of the Two Collaborators”. The play’s program is the only example we have seen and was unknown to the bibliographers. Green and Gibson C2.