Historical Artifact - Valley of the Moon Trophy

Not much is known about this 3-handled trophy, recently donated to the Feline Historical Museum by Pat Jacobberger. The pewter and copper trophy is engraved "VALLEY OF THE MOON TROPHY", which may well mean that the trophy was donated by Valley of the Moon Cattery. Trophies donated by individuals and catteries was a fairly common occurrence at shows held in the early 20th century. 

Linechaser records show 30+ Persians registered in the early-mid 1920's with the Valley of the Moon cattery name, which enables us to approximately date the trophy.

The 5" high trophy is also engraved "Best Cream or Fawn Female. 4 Wins to Hold". As the majority of Valley of the Moon Persians were registered with the American Cat Association (ACA), this is most likely a trophy awarded at ACA shows.

UPDATE: A quote from the May, 1942 edition of ALL-PETS MAGAZINE - "My older pictures in the scrap book show Valley of the Moon, imported female owned by Mrs. Simmons, Sonoma, California. She did quite a bit of winning ... "

Featured Cat - Sweet Phillis

SWEET PHILLIS
Silver Tabby English Shorthair female
born 1901

Sweet Phillis was a stunning silver classic tabby English Shorthair female, owned by an early stalwart of the Cat Fancy, Mrs. Louisa Herring, whose husband Charles Herring, was a cousin of Ann Herring, the first wife of Harrison William Weir.

Few silver tabbies, then or now, could claim to have such a wonderfully clear wide-banded coat with such clarity and definition.

Mrs. Herring was herself a 'character' of the early fancy, and specialized in an eclectic variety of cats, but her silver and brown tabby shorthairs were well known all over Europe. She even sold a Brown 'tiger' Tabby to the then Sultan of Turkey!

Read all about 'Sweet Phillis' at http://www.cat-o-pedia.org/sweet-phillis.html

Merry Christmas to All!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us 

at The CFA Foundation and The History Project. 

The Los Angeles Cat Fanciers Show Catalog, 1917

Historical cat show catalogs still turn up ... occasionally.

This is a 5" x 7" catalog for the January 24-25-26, 1917 show held by the Los Angeles Cat Fanciers, an American Cat Association (ACA) club. The show had 120 entries, the majority of which were Longhairs(Persian). Shorthairs were a single Siamese and four Manx.

This catalog is part of the generous donation to the Feline Historical Museum by The Glendale Public Library.

Abyssinians, 1938

Abyssinians from the late 1930's - 

DJER-MER'S MAKONNE OF HIMAPHAN (b 1/31/1938, left) and DJER-MER'S DAVARK OF HIMAPHAN (b 1/20/1939, right). They are from the same breeding, one year apart:
Sire: Woodrooffe Ras Seyum, a son of Tim the Harvester
Dam: Djer-Mer's Yeshe Imabet of Newton
Owner: Mrs. Stanley Gibson

This photo is from April 1940, All-Pets Magazine. According the the July, 1940 issue of All-Pets, DJER-MER'S DAVARK OF HIMAPHAN was Best Cat in Show in Kansas City, with the judge commenting that "he was an almost perfect specimen".

Legends of the Cat Fancy - Connie Stewart

Connie Stewart, and her WISHES cattery, were well-known by CFA exhibitors around the world. Connie had a flair for showing and grooming.  No matter where in the world she showed, her cats were always in excellent condition and presented impeccably in the judging rings.

Connie's achevements were many. There was rarely an annual awards banquet in the early years of this century when Connie wasn't on stage accepting an award for either a kitten or a cat .. oftentimes with multiple cats receiving awards.

Her specialty was white Persians. GC, BW, NW, Wishes Lyric was CFA's 2000-2001 Best Cat; GC, BW, NW Melosito’s White Owl was Best Cat in 2006-2007; followed by the 2007-2008 Best Cat, GC, BW, NW Sunny Ridge Polar Express of Wishes.

Although, she did venture out into Exotics and still achieved the same success - GC, BW, NW D'Eden Lover Pepito of Wishes was Best Cat in 2011-2012.

GC, BW, NW Belamy’s Desiderata of Cinema, a calico Persian, was shown by Connie to Best Cat in 2013-2014.

GC, BW, NW Belamy’s Desiderata of Cinema, a calico Persian, CFA's  Best Cat in 2013-2014.

 Sadly, Connie passed away in December, 2015 and is missed by her many friends to this very day. 

Featured Cat - Benjamin of The Durhams

BENJAMIN OF THE DURHAMS
Orange (Red) Persian male
born 1901

The story of ‘Benjamin’ clearly demonstrates, that even when we have something to work with that is less than desirable in some trait, (in this case, the lack of a known pedigree), we can with careful planning and selection, produce something of value for our own or someone else’s breeding program.

Mrs. D'arcy Hildyard gave her honest opinion based upon her actual experience, and was only too willing to share the secret of her success. 

This, too, is a reminder, that the experience of one can be the learning curve of another when valuable information is shared. And only by sharing our advances, and how we came to achieve them, do we truly add to the pool of knowledge that will advance our particular breed or color variety. Share your knowledge, your lines and your acquired wisdom with others, as only then, will you be truly fulfilling your role as ‘a breeder’.

Complete story at http://www.cat-o-pedia.org/benjamin-of-the-durhams.html.

Louis Wain, "Fairy Tales"

Louis Wain illustrated a number of children's books during his career.  This one, Fairy Tales, was published, printed on linen, in 1895 by Raphael Tuck & Sons.

The original linen copy of this book is in the collection at the Feline Historical Museum in Alliance, OH.  Large prints of the drawings can be found on the walls of the Chldren's Library at the museum.

Potlatch Parade, 1913

From a 1913 edition of The Cat Courier, printed in Rochester, NY: 

The Queen City Cat Club of Seattle's float in the Potlatch Parade, held each mid-July in Seattle, Washington. The celebration was similar to the Mardi Gras.
 

The float had "cages containing twelve prize-winning cats, representing all classes, and alongside the cages were eight large, handsome silver cups won by the various cats on exhibit. Above the cages sat a huge papier mache cat, six feet in height, as though keeping guard. By the sides of the float marched four pages clothed to represent white, silver, black and brown cats, and wearing large cat head masks."

Featured Cat - The Blue-eyed Wanderer

THE BLUE-EYED WANDERER
White Persian Male
Born 1899

In the first decade of the twentieth century, four white males dominated the breeding scene in White Persians in England. Three of these especially so, as show cats. These were Mrs. Champion's 'WHITE FRIAR', Miss White Atkins 'THE WHITE KNIGHT' and Miss Ellen Harper's 'THE BLUE-EYED WANDERER'. The fourth male was Mrs. Pettits 'KING OF THE PEARLS', whose daughter 'PIQUANTE PEARL' dominated among White females.

 

Miss Harper's celebrated white, 'The Blue-Eyed Wanderer'
Photo: Strand Co., Our Cats, 20th April, 1901.
Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

The complete story of 'THE BLUE-EYED WANDERER', born in 1899 and owned by Miss Ellen Harper can be found at http://www.cat-o-pedia.org/the-blue-eyed-wanderer.html

Delight, a Himalayan kitten

This photo is from the April 5, 1967 edition of the Monroe Evening News, Monroe, Michigan.

Artifact - Don Pedro of Thorpe Trophy

Little is known about the Don Pedro of Thorpe Trophy, other than the information that is engraved on it. This 6-1/4" tall silver chalice was awarded in 1904. From the engraving on it, it would appear that CH Don Pedro of Thorpe was the winner of the trophy.

Engraved on the back:

      C.S. & S.S. CH Don Pedro of Thorpe trophy

Engraved on front (shown below):

     Sheffield Cat Show, Nov. 17th, 1904, presented by Mrs. E.T. Moore

More is known about Don Pedro of Thorpe, an exciting Silver Tabby Longhair (Persian) in his time. He was born on April 7, 1901, bred by Miss Cope and owned by Mrs. Slingsby. He was registered with the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF, in England) and his registration record indicates that he was also registered with The National Cat Club, and was indeed an entry (winning his Championship) at the 1904 Sheffield Cat Show. 

Mrs. Slingsby's CH. Don Pedro of Thorpe
From Frances Simpson's book Cats for Pleasure and Profit, 1909

This silver chalice is on display at the Feline Historical Museum in Alliance, Ohio. 

Trade Cards

During the latter part of the Victorian era (1839-1901) the cat, illustrated in various designs and activities, could be found in magazine and newspaper ads as early as 1874.

Prior to the introduction of reasonably priced magazine advertising came the trade card. Trade cards, small cards containing vendor information and sometimes a black/white illustration, were introduced during the 1700's and given to customers by tradesmen as a way for customers to remember where they obtained a product or service. In 1853, a duty on advertisement in Britain was abolished, and the trend toward mass advertising started to grow by leaps and bounds. 

The History Project's People Gallery

The Cat Fancy is not exclusively about the cats, even though they are the main focus. A great many talented individuals have sustained and contributed to the Fancy as breeders, owners, judges and officials for over 140 years.

In line with our efforts on behalf of the cats, it gives Karen and John great pleasure to announce the new beginnings of our People Gallery page. On this page you will find an initial alphabetical list with photos, by last name, of over 290 individuals, that over time we will be creating and linking data pages for. Karen has been extremely busy creating this gallery for you to peruse. Over time, both she and I will scour our joint-venture archives for material to add to the new pages for these individuals and announce them when they are ready to be first viewed. 

Show officials and exhibitors at the 1913 Westminster Cat Club show (UK).

No file on The History Project will be ever considered complete, as we will be adding new material as and when it becomes available, as well as new names and photos to this initial list.

The PEOPLE Gallery can be found here: http://cat-o-pedia.org/people.html

Edward Landseer, artist

Here's an 1812 illustration of a Persian head and tail, by Sir Edward Landseer, which was sketched when he was 10 years old. Landseer was considered a child prodigy, and he started drawing animals at the tender age of five.

From the December 1957 issue of Our Cats magazine (UK)

Featured Cat - Poupee de Madalpour

POUPEE DE MADALPOUR
Seal Point Birman
born 1920

POUPEE de MADALPOUR (born 1920) was owned by Madame Leotardi of France. 

This file explores the history of the first Birman of pure descent to be born in the West, Champion Poupee de Madalpour. Read about her birth, her first and subsequent breedings and progeny, as well as when she was exhibited at an International Cat Show in Paris in 1926. 

Her story is now available at http://cat-o-pedia.org/poupee-de-madalpour.html

Unidentified Burmese in a photo that accompanied a 1946 Cats Magazine article, written by Mr. Donald Came, who bred CH Moulmein Theebau, a Burmese born in 1948. Theebau is one of the cats pictured in the new Burmese Gallery on The History Project - http://cat-o-pedia.org/gallery/burmese.html. 

The two-part Cats Magazine article can be downloaded from the LIBRARY link on The History Project site.

Mrs. Gertrude Taylor, CFA President

Mrs. Gertrude Taylor (Sweenie) was extremely active in the cat fancy from 1917 to the late 1930's, serving as both CFA Vice-President and President. A breeder of Siamese, she was also well known for her mail-order cattery supply business. Sources tells us that it was not unknown for Mrs. Taylor to "smell up" her apartment building on weekends when she "cooked" her potions to sell to cat fanciers. 

Mrs. Taylor also had a hand in keeping the cat fancy informed, through publication of The Cat Courier magazine, which she took over on the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Brace of Rochester, NY. 

Read more about Mrs. Taylor's part in the early Cat Fancy days here: 
http://cat-o-pedia.org/people-GertrudeTaylor.html

Featured Cat - Paquita

PAQUITA 
Sable Burmese female
born June, 1956

The story of 'Paquita' runs parallel with the dissemination of All-American Burmese bloodlines across the globe. In this case, from American lines which had first made their way to Great Britain, and then from there to New Zealand and later, also to Australia.

'Paquita' was one of the first three Burmese cats to be exported from the UK to New Zealand. She was a young but prolific breeder and in her genetic make-up was a little dilute surprise! Her daughter 'Ransein Talisman', who was also a sable Burmese, was bred to Ch. Merrick Viking, another sable Burmese, and from this combination was born the first All-Blue litter of Burmese in the Southern Hemisphere.

Read all about Mrs. Sedcole's favorite cat, 'Paquita', here: http://www.cat-o-pedia.org/paquita.html

Featured Cat - Ankaret

ANKARET 
Ruddy Abyssinian Female
born 1929

This little female was bred by Mrs Constance Carew Cox, of whom Mr H C Brooke had the following to say about her contribution to the Abyssinian breed:-

“Had not Mrs. Carew-Cox about this time devoted herself to the breed I very much fear it would, ere now, have become extinct. Neglected - Heaven knows why - by the Fancy at large in an inconceivable manner, this beautiful and interesting breed certainly owes its existence to-day mainly to the devoted care and affection bestowed upon it by Mrs.Carew-Cox, who for a quarter-of-a-century has fostered it in the face of discouragements which I verily believe would have "choked off" any other person in the Fancy.

“Not for her the "big business" in stud fees, the "queued-up" queens, the cups and specials galore, which fall to the lot of many Long-hair breeders; no, in the face of rotten judging, lack of recognition, poor prizes, lack of market, and a heart-breaking mortality in kittens, this plucky lady has carried the Abyssinian flag triumphantly through."

It is a touching tribute to her efforts to preserve the foundations of this truly amazing and unique breed.

Read the full story of Ankaret, her relatives and owners at http://www.cat-o-pedia.org/ankaret.html

If you have looked at individual cat pages (all 300+ of them!) on The History Project site, you will realize that each cat file comes with a FACTFILE, which includes pedigree, registration, and ownership information on the individual cat, plus a photo. 

We've long known that the information in the Factfiles is important historical pedigree data, so to make it even easier to locate all this data, we have compiled all 300+ Factfiles into a slideshow, which you can find at http://cat-o-pedia.org/factfiles/album/

Tommie Meadow with Singapura, Pusse

Here's Tommy Brodie Meadow, with PUSSE, an original Singapura cat (supposedly found on the streets of Singapore). Mrs. Meadow is widely credited with establishing the existence of the Singapura breed. 

This photo is from the September, 1980 issue of Cats Magazine.

Si Sawat's Sunan of Samdur, Korat male

Here's an early Korat Grand Champion - GC SI SAWAT'S SUNAN OF SAMDUR, Korat male, born September 3, 1968.

"Muscles" as he was known, lived to be 22 years of age. He was owned by Mr. & Mrs. Darrell Sample of Mesa, AZ.

This photo is from the records of Daphne Negus, in the collection of The CFA Foundation.

A look back at Silver Persian breeders exhibiting at the California Silver Fanciers show on November 14, 1970 in Claremont, CA. According to the photo caption "It is significant because it is believed that this marked the first occasion at which a show drew no less than nine silver Grand Champions."

This photo is from Cat Fanciers' News, February, 1971

Mrs. Evelyn Minot / Mrs. Grace Over

Here is Mrs. Evelyn Minot, with her cat 'Pierre', at the 1957 CFF Jewel City Cat Club show, held in Glendale, CA. They are shown with judge Mrs. Grace Over, and the award presented. Mrs. Over, of GRAY-IVY cattery, became a CFA judge starting in 1962.

This photo from the scrapbook collection of Mrs. Roberta Billig, which was formerly housed at the Glendale Public Library (Glendale, CA), and is now in the collection of the Feline Historical Museum (Alliance, OH).

Featured Cat - Lady Vere de Vere

LADY VERE DE VERE
Silver Tabby Longhair
born 22nd August 1896


It is almost 121 years since the birth of this little lady, a grand-daughter of Champion Silver Lambkin. She bridged the gap between her Great Great Grand-mother 'Chinnie' (the true foundation of the breed that carries her name) and her own great grandson, who was the magnificent chinchilla, 'Argent Glorioso'.

In 1901, as a five year old, she also traveled with some of her relatives from the UK to the USA, ultimately helping to establish the Chinchilla in that country from her owners' famous ARGENT bloodlines.

Sometimes the cats we have to breed with are far from perfect, but if we know their bloodlines and the strengths of their gene pool, then, with studious and selective breeding, we can draw out from them, future generations of much improved stock and an even better foundation for a future we may not be part of, but have contributed to!

That was certainly the situation with 'Lady Vere De Vere' - read her complete story here: 
http://cat-o-pedia.org/lady-vere-de-vere.html

Featured Cat - Bogie

BOGIE 
Burmese female
born circa 1891

For anyone with a serious interest in the BURMESE breed, this little dark brown cat named BOGIE, was owned by the Duchess of Bedford and lived on the Estate at Woburn Abbey. 

This particular cat raises questions about whether Burmese cats actually reached Britain between 35-60 years earlier than anticipated - and also possibly 35-40 years earlier than in the United States.

You can draw your own conclusions by viewing the new file on this cat, probably born circa 1891 (or earlier) and who was still living in 1901, when the Duchess was pictured with her, seated comfortably on her lap.

Read all about Bogie's story here: http://www.cat-o-pedia.org/bogie.html

Louis Wain, artist/illustrator

Louis Wain (1860-1939) was one of the most prolific artists/illustrators of his time.  His wife was responsible for his career as an artist, as is was for her than he began to draw cats to keep her amused during an illness.

Wain was also heavily involved in the Cat Fancy, being a judge a cat shows, and President of the National Cat Club(UK), 1890-early 1900's.

For numerous years in the early 1900's, Wain published an "Annual" that contained hundreds of his illustrations, plus stories for children.

Cover of the 1909 Louis Wain's Annual

Today, Wain's artwork is greatly sought after and highly collectable, often commanding high asking prices.

Read more about Louis wain here: http://cat-o-pedia.org/people-LouisWain.html