Autograph letter to Richard D'Oyly Carte signed by Arthur Sullivan noting the terms on which Gilbert and Sullivan will agree to write a two-act piece for D'Oyly Carte, dated 5 June 1877.

Gilbert and Sullivan agree to accept payment of two hundred guineas (£210) on delivery of the manuscript, words and music, before the piece is produced, and six guineas (£6.6.0) for every performance during the run of the piece in London, from which the two hundred guineas advance payment wil be deducted 'so that the payment of the six guineas a performance will not really commence until about the 33rd or 34th performance.' They 'reserve the country right' so that D'Oyly Carte's right to stage the piece in London on these terms will 'extend only to the end of your season.' Sullivan adds that the piece 'would be of a musical comedy character and could be ready for performance by the end of September.' If this outline of terms is agreed, Gilbert and Sullivan could prepare a proper agreement.

The opera in question was The Sorcerer, the first comic opera produced by the Comedy Opera Company which had been founded the previous year by D'Oyly Carte with financial support from four investors who became directors in the company. Gilbert and Sullivan both had other commitments at the time and the opera did not open until 17 November 1877 at the Opera Comique, a central London theatre off the Strand.

A note on the reverse states that this letter was used as exhibit 'E' in the case of 'Gilbert and another' versus the Comedy Opera Company Limited, 27 October 1880. Following the success of their next opera, H.M.S. Pinafore, Gilbert, Sullivan and D'Oyly Carte agreed to a new business partnership and planned to separate from the Comedy Opera Company. This led to a dispute between D'Oyly Carte and the Comedy Opera Company over the ownership of the rights in H.M.S. Pinafore and to a court case, which was won by D'Oyly Carte.