A colossal idea : an original farce : manuscript, partly autograph and partly in the hand of a copyist.

Title from item.
Manuscript is unsigned, with no place of writing given.
Evidently the same manuscript formerly in the possession of Townley Searle and published, with his introduction, in 1932. See Stedman, page 31 (note), "In the case of A colossal idea, a MS partly in Gilbert's hand, partly in a copyist's, is extant in PML together with letters showing that this is the text of A colossal idea, introd. T. Searle (London : G.P. Putnam's Sons Ltd, 1932)". Searle's edition of the play appears to constitute its first appearance in print.
Townley Searle, in his introduction to the first appearance of Gilbert's farce in print (London : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1932) states that the manuscript was "probably written between 1855 and 1870"; Stedman identifies 1862 as the probably year of original composition.
Written in ink on blue paper.
Manuscript consisting of 38 numbered leaves, with cover sheet reading "A colossal idea / an original farce / by / W.S. Gilbert".
In pencil on front cover sheet: Margate No of "Fun" 1873.