Dear Lynne & Colin
When I first saw the title of this book, I thought, “Oh not another breed of cat creeping into our garden, to join the ginger tom from next door”.
I need not have worried, for crested cats are fun, have no intentions on gardens, and are fully housetrained. They will happily live in a china cabinet, with town crests on their fat tummies or backsides, or perch in or on impossible places.
The range is incredible and the list of manufacturers and subsidiaries awesome. I can’t believe that some of them exist, yet there they are - “One and All”. “Zuyder Zee China”, “Mother Shipton China”, “Jerusalem and Orient Bazaar”. There will have to be a new edition of Godden!
There are over 600 illustrations in colour and they include my favourite cat, Felix, who kept on walking. How I remember paying a penny or exchanging a jam jar to sit on a hard bench, in a church hall, to watch the flickering images of this crazy cat and here he is in the book. Cats of all kinds are here Manx and Cheshire, but mostly of indeterminate breed all looking happy. The Black Cat Series are the happiest of all, one group of 5, sitting on the top of a roof, their tails forming the word luck. What came to mind was an old army song to do with cats, which I can’t now remember!
The Carters have noted the degree of rarity of the models, rather than giving the prices, and I am sure we will see collectors going around the fairs, checking on this most useful book.
May you find a rare piece that is not listed here. I have got one, and joy is unconfined, bless her.
Happy cat hunting.
Henry Sandon
Broadcaster on BBC “Antiques Roadshow”
Author and Leading Authority on Worcester Porcelain
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Dear Marilyn
I am pleased to add this exciting new work to my heraldic china library.
Firstly, I must congratulate you on the research which has gone into the book and also the number of photographs and especially all in colour. The paper is high quality art and the type of binding used, whilst not commercial will endure for years to come.
The book itself is written in a very individual non trade style which I rather like. I have certainly seen quite a number of cats of which I was previously unaware and congratulate you on the depth of your research. You even managed to include a picture of one dog!
It would be churlish of me to find fault but I believe the Isle of Man is spelt with only one 'n’.
The pages at the rear for ticking items one has in one's collection is a useful innovative feature. The final point I would make is you ask people to contact you if they find any new cats but I do not see your address published anywhere, but maybe I have missed it.
Congratulations on a very individual work.
Yours sincerely
Nicholas J Pine FRSA
13th August 2004
Author of The Price Guide to Crested China, The Concise Encyclopedia and Price Guide to Goss China, and The Price Guide to Arms and Decorations on Goss.
Broadcaster and lecturer on heraldic porcelain over three decades.
Editors Note:- The old way of spelling Man was with two ‘n’s’
We can be contacted at colin.carter3@btinternet.com
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