As the Gilbert and Sullivan operas—most notably H.M.S. Pinafore, Patience, and The Mikado—enjoyed tremendous success across America, elements of the productions soon found their way into the popular culture lexicon, and appeared in a variety of advertising and consumer items. Gilbert and Sullivan received no benefit from these unauthorized adaptations of their work.
Featured here are children’s toys and games, ceramics, parodies, prints, trade cards, cigar labels, and other advertising for household products.