The Darling of the Gods His Majesty's Theatre 1903 Illustrated Concertina Souvenir Programme with 6 colour lithographs by Yoshio Markino

London: His Majesty's Theatre, 1903. 1st Edition. hardbound. Very Good. 23 x 16.5 closed - 307 x 16.5cm open. colour plates Superb illustrated souvenir programme for the London production of 'The Darling of the Gods', His Majesty's Theatre Monday December 28th 1903; folding concertina with 6 full-colour lithographs (on 12 panels) by Yoshio Markino, and with illustration to front board of a samurai sword dripping blood, on the edge of which sits a butterfly (after a design by Sir Joseph Causton & Sons Ltd.); also includes cast of characters, synopsis of scenery, and introduction by Raymond Blathwayt; text and illustrations set on heavier paper stock backing - all joints firm and holding (archival tape-reinforcement to joint of front board); the title page reads ""Monday, December 28th, 1903, and Every Evening at 8.15 'The Darling of the Gods' by David Belasco and John Luther Long""; other details of production - Scenery by W.T. Hemsley, Incidental Music by William Furst, General Manage Henry Dana; illustrator Yoshio Markino was a Japanese artist and writer who spent most of his life in London, where he was associated with expatriate artists such as Urushibara Mockuchu; 'The Darling of the Gods', produced by Beerbohm Tree, was a piece of popular Japonica in which an innocent Princess falls for a Samurai (with a price on his head); eventually the doomed couple perish, he committing hara-kiri as she dies by his side - finally they meet a thousand years later, pardoned and glorified, in the First White Heaven; the Souvenir is a scarce item, which featured in the 2003 Bonhams auction Japanese Encounters; mild rippling to pages (presumably due to original adhesive), small worn patch to cast of characters, o.w. Very Good throughout; boards a little foxed and rubbed, light (tea?) stain to front board, mild shelfwear and one or two minor worn spots, archival tape-reinforcement to board front at hinge.