As an avid Gilbert and Sullivan fan, buying a copy of this book was logical. Aside from it, I only had Martyn Green's Treasury of Gilbert & Sullivan and assorted vocal scores. This needed to be remedied. Though I don't believe the DOC Picture History is an absolutely necessary buy G&S fans, I'll certainly enjoy it for some time.
Good things about it:
* Lots of excellent pictures from every era of the company's existence up to its close in 1982
* Brief information about the photos
* Good introductions to the various eras (Early Years/Lytton/Green/Pratt/Reed)
Things that could have been improved, etc.:
* Why, oh why, did they choose a photo of Martyn Green as King Gama for the heading to his era? Not very flattering
* Many of the pictures in this book are available on the web, if in generally lower quality
It can be lived without, but the Official D'Oyly Carte Picture History will continue to give me pleasure for years to come.