Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898) was a 16 year old pupil of the Brighton Grammar School when he produced his illustrations for the programme of a school production of the comic opera "The Pay of the Pied Piper". Some copies, as here, were bound in as a supplement to Past and Present, the School Magazine. Although showing little of the distinctive style for which he was later to become famous, the drawings were praised by the editor in his 'School Notes' for portraying a "unique individuality." In addition, the following comment is made in the preface to the opera: "The illustrations are the perfectly original designs and drawings of a boy now in the School, A. V. Beardsley. Our regret is, that lacking experience in the preparation of Drawings for the photo-engraver, the repoductions should fall so far short of the original sketches."