SEPTEMBER 2021
Volume 2 No.3
FEATURES: LONGHAIR – ROB ROY OF CLAREMONT SHORTHAIR – LOCKEHAVEN SIAM
PURRSONALITY – DR. CHARLES DARWIN CFAF - COLLECTORS CAT DOLLS ART – THE ADVENTURES OF A CAT Photo: Helmi Flick
and much more!
INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE FOR CAT LOVERS, LINECHASERS & FANCIERS 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
SEPTEMBER 2021
VOLUME 2 NUMBER 3
EDITORIAL The Editor outlines the contents of Felis Historica – Volume 2 No.3!
6
CONTRIBUTING TEAM MEMBERS Gallery of our Team of Columnists, Contributors & Correspondents
8
THE DYNASTIC LINE OF CH. ROB ROY OF CLAREMONT The early 20th century Dynastic lines of Rob Roy of Claremont
12
A DAY AT THE MUSEUM - by Karen Lawrence The Cat Doll Collection at the Feline Historical Museum
20
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENETICS YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR CAT! PART 15 - by Dr. Leslie Lyons Torties, Calicos & Lyonization… Part 2!
32
(Hong Kong)
A GALLERY OF TORTIES, REDS & CALICOS (Part Two)
37
Laura Vocelle
LOCKEHAVEN SIAM The story of an Early American Siamese stud male
44
THE DESCENDANTS OF BASTET – by Karen Lawrence. New Book release information…
56
A PERSIAN RHAPSODY IN BLUE – by John Smithson. New Book release information…
58
THE ADVENTURES OF A CAT AND A FINE CAT TOO - by John Smithson. A Review of the Book by Elwes and illustrations by Harrison Weir
60
THE HARRISON WEIR COLLECTION - RECENT ADDITIONS The early cat related art of Harrison William Weir …
68
CELEBRATING MODERN DAY LEADING CATS – Brown Classic Tabby & White Norwegian Forest Cat CFA GC, GP, NW & TICA IW, BW, SGCA. FEATHERLAND MARTIN OF ANDREDIE
70
CAT POEMS and OTHER FANCIES / & TEN CATS – by Graham Harrop
80
THE DARWINIAN CONNECTION TO CATS & CAT SHOWS
82
Karen Lawrence (St. Catharines, Canada)
Lorraine Shelton (California, USA)
5
Dr. Leslie Lyons (Missouri, USA)
5
Chloe Chung
(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)
5
Jack Terry (Florida, USA)
CONTENT All Rights Reserved © A-Cat-Emy Concepts SUBSCRIPTIONS Published Monthly Single Issue $4.00 USD ANNUAL $48.00 USD
Editorial ’FELIS HISTORICA’ JOHN G. SMITHSON EDITOR
OUR COVER PHOTO Best in Show Challenge Cup of the Pacific Cat Club A large three handled silver plated trophy dating from 1914 when it was won by Ch. Rob Roy of Claremont. Now in the Archives of The Harrison Weir Collection. Photo by Helmi Flick Cat Photography
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
It would be fair to say that in the 18 months or so since the Covid-19 pandemic has been a world reality, the cat show scene has suffered many trials, ranging from total cancellations, to shows under held under new legistative regulations from State and Government mandates, requiring compulsory mask wearing and social distancing, to closed shows with no public entry. These have placed a huge financial and management burden upon clubs all over the world and the chaos it has generally caused has returned again with the new Delta variant running rampant already in many countries. After opening up of shows in the United States, the United Kingdom, in Australia and New Zealand, the Delta variant has in recent weeks caused cancellations and closures or barriers to attendance. When Canada recently closed it borders to its own residents crossing into the United States, Canadians who had entered shows in the USA were immediately prevented from attending. In Australia, the State of New South Wales, was unable to get ahead of the rate of infections and was effectively closed down. New Zealand, which has managed to get through 80% of a covid-free season, was recently also closed down with a new Delta variant community outbreak, so that its upcoming late seasonal shows have now also been either cancelled or postponed. Thank goodness, that even when we cannot show our cats in person, we can still share our love for cats and for our breeds through social media, stay in contact with like-minded individuals and share with and support each other in these unusual times, as either cat breeders and /or cat fanciers. ‘Felis Historica’ is just one of the mediums through which we can stay in touch and share our knowledge. In this month’s issue our historical articles touch upon, a dynastic line of Silvwe Somali ‘Tajhara Obsession Confession’ (aka ‘Obie’
SEPTEMBER 2021
IN CELEBRATION OF
TORTIES & CALICOS (PART 2)
Silver Persians, in relation to the magnificent trophy featured on our cover page, won by a cat which was central to the success of that dynastic bloodline; while another sheds light on the life of an early American bred Siamese. Our columnist Karen Lawrence provides us an insight on the social history contained in the ‘Cat Doll’ collection housed in the Feline Historical Museum vault, in Alliance, Ohio. Dr. Lyons continues her explanation of the unique genetic makeup of our Torties and Calicos and the embryonic migration of melanoblasts from the dorsal region (spinal alignment) to the ventral regions (sides and belly). Our modern-day feature cat is the superb Brown Classic Tabby & White Norwegian Forest Cat male (now Alter) CFA GC, GP, NW & TICA IW, BW, SGCA Featherland Martin of Andredie, bred by Michael and Lorraine Shelton, and owned by Andrea Cobb and Michael Shelton. Other features include a review of the book and the art in ‘Adventures of a Cat – And a Fine Cat too!’ by Alfred Elwes, published in 1857, and illustrated by Harrison Weir; as well examing the difference between the two men both named Alfred Elwes, one who is the author of Childrens books and the other who was an illustrator of cats and younger contemporary of Harrison Weir. Lastly we take a peek into the revealing links between the famous Victorian naturalist Dr. Charles Darwin, and both cats and cat shows! Enjoy!
John EDITOR
Our Feature Cat: Norwegian Forest Cat Neuter CFA GC, GP, NW & TICA IW, BW, SGCA. FEATHERLAND MARTIN OF ANDREDIE (Photos: Helmi Flick Cat Photography)