Statement of the Evidence in Chief of George Bernard Shaw Before the Joint-Committee on Stage Plays (Censorship and Theatre Licensing). Printed Privately [by R. and R. Clark], 1909. Pp 55. Publisher’s stiff wrapper lettered in black. Light fading to wrappers, otherwise a fine bright copy.

Only edition, one of 250 copies printed.

At the time Shaw wrote to his friend John Bach “copies are scarce. Precious & private, so hug this one close: they will soon be unobtainable for love or money.”

Shaw’s testimony before the 1909 Parliamentary committee was part of his lifelong campaign to end censorship in the theater. He prepared the present volume beforehand, but the committee rejected his request to read it out or print it in its report. It remains a key document in the history of censorship in Great Britain, which officially ended for the stage in 1968.