London: Faber, 1967

8vo, pp. 96. Original card wrappers, printed dustwrapper. Slight darkening to (white) rear panel, small (5mm) closed tear to lower front edge of dust jacket, otherwise a near fine, unread copy.

First edition, softbound issue, published simultaneously with its hardbound counterpart. Stoppard's first professional produced play. INSCRIBED BY STOPPARD TO ACTOR PAUL RATTIGAN: 'To Paul with the affection and admiration of the author, Tom. RNT 1995/6'. Additional gift inscription to Rattigan to half-title from a friend, on the occasion of the revival's opening.

Paul Rattigan played the part of Hamlet in the Royal National Theatre's revival of the play, which opened at the Royal National Theatre on 14 December 1995 prior to a national tour in the spring of 1996. After an outing at the Edinburgh Festival, Rosencrantz... was first performed professionally at the Old Vic theatre in London in April 1967.

Accompanying the playtext are:

-- Inscribed card on the stationery of the then Artistic Director of the Royal National Theatre, Richard Eyre: 'Dear Paul, Good luck and best wishes, Richard.';

-- 2 TLS on RNT notepaper to Rattigan from Serena Hill, both dated 28 March 1996, discussing details of a contract extension to cover the production's additional shows in Sofia;

-- Printed invitation to Stoppard's 2001 summer party at the Chelsea Physic Garden, the names of Rattigan and his wife appended in a secretarial hand;

-- Royal National Theatre programme for the production, with a flier for its tour visit to the Lyceum theatre, Sheffield.