It is thus that the sympathy between men and animals expresses itself, but interwoven, and collectively, these details evoke an emotion which it is very difficult even for time to destroy. (an excerpt from Feathers by Carl Van Vechten)

{HISTORY}

Published in London in 1952, Best Cat Stories brings together in one volume some of the most engaging feline character sketches and short stories of the early to mid-20th century. Compiled by British writer, editor, and publisher Michael Joseph (1897-1958) and illustrated by British artist Eileen Mayo (1906-1994), this collection contains the work of fifteen American, British, European and Canadian writers, poets and playwrights. All of whom also happen to be astute wordsmiths when it comes to the character of cats.

Here readers will meet a wide array of furry felines with names like Feathers, Timmy, Tulan, Smith, Calvin, Old Ernest and King Congo. They include stories about zoos, mountain climbing, tree climbing, horse racing, local bars, local fairs, war zones, and fishing villages. Despite its whimsical cover art, this is not a children's story book, but an anthology of great writing that offers insights into the connections between man and feline. 

Full of diverse storytelling, these are not schmaltzy, overly sentimental stories highlighting the preciousness of a cat's life. These are stories with grit and substance, all selected by Michael "not for literary quality alone, but the author's ability to understand cats."

A rare find and a fun read for any feline lover, this book came from a collector of cat literature that numbered a library of volumes in the hundreds and spanned most of the 20th century. We fell in love with the cover art of this book in particular, with its lime green dust jacket and pretty kitty nestled in a flower field. Illustrated by celebrated artist Eileen Mayo, who was responsible for both the dust jacket and the interior illustrations, each story is accompanied by her visual interpretation of the main cat character, making each one just as unique as the story itself.

Portraits of Eileen Mayo courtesy of The Independent, Jan 5th, 1994 and Michael Joseph from his 1952 book jacket, Charles, The Story of a Friendship

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• 1952 First Edition by Faber and Faber, London 
  
• Rare book
• 271 pages
• Contains original dust jacket 
• Writers featured include T.S. Eliot, P.G. Wodehouse, Sylvia Townsend Warner, Charles Dudley Warner, Carl Van Vechten, William Sansom, Kermit Rolland, John Pudney, Q. Patrick, Chales Odger, T.S. Blakeney, Walter De La Mare, Gottfried Keller, Selwyn Jepson, Kay Hill, Paul Gallico, Ann Chadwick< Margaret Bonham and Dorothy Baker
• Illustrated throughout by Eileen Mayo

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition, this rare book contains its original, unclipped dust jacket.  The interior pages and pumpkin-colored coverboards are very clean and bright. There is some foxing on the interior dust jacket flaps and endpapers The exterior dust jacket contains chippy areas along the top and bottom edge and the spine creases. Small rips along the top and bottom edge of the dust jacket's corners have been reinforced on the interior with archival paper to prevent further degradation. 

{SIZE}

Measures 8.25" inches (length) x 5.5" inches (width) x 1" inch (thickness) and weighs 1 lb