Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1956

8vo, pp. 80. Original pale blue boards, lettered in gilt to spine and Ned Kelly illustration to front panel. Illustrated dustwrapper. First signature starting from binding, preliminaries a little age-toned. A very good copy in a very good dustwrapper with a little general fading and light marking to rear panel.

Acting edition, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO LEO McKERN: 'For Leo McKern with thanks for coming over, Douglas Stewart Oct. 1 '56'. Presented to McKern by the author to mark the play's first professional Australian production of the play.

First produced as a radio play in 1942, Stewart's Ned Kelly was staged later that year at Sydney University. The play was published the following year. In 1956 the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust staged the play as part of the celebrations surrounding the Melbourne Olympics, with Leo McKern in the title role and designs by the Australian artist Sidney Nolan. As an event designed to showcase Australia in all its glory it was spectacularly misjudged, and although the reviews were very good it closed after only two weeks.

Given the circumstances, a poignant (if stellar) association.