Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/H.M.S. Pinafore

 
Original - H.M.S. Pinafore was the fourth collaboration between Gilbert and Sullivan, and proved spectacularly successful on both sides of the Atlantic. However, American copyright law of the time did not respect British copyright, and most of the productions in America - probably including the one here advertised - were unauthorised and gave no income to the creators. In order to attempt to gain American copyright on their next opera, The Pirates of Penzance, the entire company was taken to New York City in order to stage its official première.
 
Edit 1 - strong sharpening of the text, more weak sharpening of other parts.
Reason
A fine engraving, advertising an early American production, for an opera where the American popularity and the unauthorised nature of most of said productions were particularly notable: This led directly to their next opera, The Pirates of Penzance, premièring in America. And, yes, I know the caption is a little long. So sue me =).
Articles this image appears in
H.M.S. Pinafore
Creator
A.S. Seer's

Not promoted (quorum not met) MER-C 10:31, 19 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]