AUGUST 2021 Volume 2 No.2
FEATURES: LH – CH. OAKLANDS SCEPTRE (BLUE PERSIAN)
MISS GLADYS CHEETHAM
SH – BAYARD (RUSSIAN BLUE)
THE CFA FOUNDATION
GENETICS – ORANGE & TORTOISESHELL
NEWBURY CAT CLUB
INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE FOR CAT FANCIERS, LINECHASERS & FOLLOWERS OF FELINE HISTORY
“Today’s achievements are part of tomorrow’s history”
HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION © A-Cat-Emy Concepts
PUBLISHED BY A-CAT-EMY CONCEPTS for THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION EDITOR
John G. Smithson editor@felishistorica.com HISTORY PARTNERS The CFA Foundation COLUMNISTS/CONTRIBUTORS
Karen Lawrence (St. Catharines, Canada)
Lorraine Shelton (California, USA)
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Dr. Leslie Lyons (Missouri, USA)
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Chloe Chung (Hong Kong)
Laura Vocelle (Muscat, Oman)
Florent Fissot (Monsegur, France)
Dr. Victor Zaalov (Acre, Israel)
Valerie Sheldrake Feline Historian (Suffolk, UK)
Jamie Christian (Ohio, USA)
PHOTOGRAPHY / GRAPHICS
Helmi & Ken Flick (Florida, USA)
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Jack Terry (Florida, USA)
CONTENT All Rights Reserved © A-Cat-Emy Concepts SUBSCRIPTIONS Published Monthly Single Issue $4.00 USD ANNUAL $48.00 USD
AUGUST 2021 VOLUME 2 NUMBER 2 EDITORIAL – THE SECOND EDITION OF OUR SECOND YEAR! The Editor outlines the contents of Felis Historica – Volume 2 No.2!
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CONTRIBUTING TEAM MEMBERS Gallery of our Team of Columnists, Contributors & Correspondents
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MISS GLADYS CHEETHAM – THE OAKLANDS PHENOMENON An incredibly successful pre-WW1 20th Century Persian Breeder
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THE FELINE HISTORICAL MUSEUM – Part Three - by Karen Lawrence The CFA Foundation Board of Directors
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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT! PART 14 - by Dr. Leslie Lyons Torties, Calicos & Lyonization…
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A GALLERY OF TORTIES, REDS & CALICOS
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CHAMPION OAKLANDS SCEPTRE –(Blue Persian) - by John Smithson Early leading Blue Persian female from the Oaklands stable
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THE DESCENDANTS OF BASTET – by Karen Lawrence New Book release information…
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A PERSIAN RHAPSODY IN BLUE – by John Smithson New Book release information…
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BAYARD - (Russian Blue) - by John Smithson. 19th Century Russian Blue stud, bred by Mrs. Carew Cox
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THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION - RECENT ADDITIONS Newbury Cat Club – Period Photos and Sterling Silver Award Spoon
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CELEBRATING MODERN DAY LEADING CATS – Short-hair Breed Type – Ruddy Somali male CFA GC. BWR, RW, & TICA LA IW, RW, SGC. TAJHARA OBSESSION CONFESSION
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CAT POEMS and OTHER FANCIES / & TEN CATS – by Graham Harrop
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Editorial ’FELIS HISTORICA’ JOHN G. SMITHSON EDITOR
OUR COVER PHOTO A superb original hand-coloured photo by the famous Crystal Palace Photographer Mr. T. H. Everitt. Featuring Miss Gladys Cheetham with her Blue Persian queen Champion Oaklands Sceptre. taken in 1914, held in The Harrison Weir Collection. Digital restoration by Jack Terry.
COPYRIGHT ISSN: 2744-4430 National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa © A-CAT-EMY CONCEPTS / FELIS HISTORICA THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, screen capture, or otherwise, without prior written permission. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED www.felis-historica.com www.harrisonweir.com
In this month’s edition, Dr. Leslie Lyons provides us with an inside view from a scientific perspective, on the unique nature of the ‘Orange’ locus and X-linked traits in our cats, which I know many of you will find interesting. This equally affords us an opportunity to celebrate Torties, Calicos and Red Persians in our Gallery linked to her article, the images for which have been generously provided by breeders. Our modern-day feature cat this month is the ruddy Somali ‘Tajhara Obsession Confession’ (aka ‘Obie’ shown opposite), a celebrated representative of his breed on a world-wide scale. Also shown opposite is his son, ‘Tajhara Uptown Swagger’, both males having attained International Winner status. Both of course, were bred by Mary Franz and both appear in our article on ‘Obie’, whose photograph is graciously provided by Starrlight Photography. Our unique cover photo is an item from the Harrison Weir Collection, a rare and precious original hand-coloured piece by the famous Crystal Palace photographer, T.H. Everitt, who has left an immense legacy of photographic studies of cats and their owners, many of which I am pleased to say are preserved in the Harrison Weir Collection. This specific piece was part of an estate purchased by myself some years ago and the photograph has been brought back to its former glory thanks to the restorative digital genius of Jack Terry (Florida), who regularly contributes to our articles in his capacity as our resident photographic and graphics expert. Thank you Jack! Both the cat, Blue Persian ‘Champion Oaklands Sceptre’ and her owner Miss Gladys Cheetham, are themselves the subject of separate articles in this month’s issue. Their stories and images are also taken from material obtained in the purchase of the ‘Oaklands’ cattery estate.
AUGUST 2021
IN CELEBRATION OF
TORTIES & CALICOS
Our columnist Karen Lawrence provides us an insight this month into the multi-talented Board Members of the CFA Foundation, who contribute their time and support for the continuity of the Foundations work to preserve the history of the Cat Fancy in the form of the Feline Historical Museum. The Museum, based in Alliance Ohio, is a unique repository of feline-related artifacts, art, feline social history and that of the cat fancy itself from all over the world. It is of course, critical, that this collection be preserved at all cost, as it is a very precious link to our past and a resource for feline historians of both today and in future generations. Our period history piece, apart from those already mentioned is about the blue shorthair male, Champion Ashbrittle Peter the Great, a key contributor in the establishment of early Russian Blues, but who also appears on the pedigrees of some early British (English) shorthairs. Sadly, our planet is still being ravaged by Covid, so although cat shows are starting to reappear, but they are still relatively few, in number, and the risks are still very real and remain high. Anti-vaccinators do not help, flouting the rules that are put in place to protect us all. Unless we work as a world team, it is going to be a long haul. Vaccination programs will lead to travel eventually being possible and a better level of protection for all. Please take care one and all, and think of how your actions may affect others, as ours is a unique, very special community - which is most definitely worth preserving!
John EDITOR
Our Feature Cat: Ruddy Somali, LA IW, BW, RW, SGC. Tajhara Obsession Confession (above) with his Ruddy Somali sibling GC. Tajhara Sunchaser (below) (Photos courtesy of Starrlight Photography and Spyzoo Photography)