Looking back in history the cat held Godlike status in ancient Egypt. Much later when witch-hunts were in vogue, cats were viewed as Satan’s minions. Even the tradition of bad luck associated with cats has changed over time.
Through the Victorian era into the early 1900s, black cats were thought to invoke good luck while white cats carried the stigma of bringing bad luck. Many images of black cats can be found on objects dating to the turn of the last century, but white cats aren’t seen nearly as often.
The handsome creature we know as the domesticated cat seems to hover somewhere between mystery and admiration these days, and vintage images of these pets continue to delight caboodles of collectors in myriad ways.
What’s Collectible
Perhaps so many people enjoy collecting cat items because of a natural curiosity akin to their feline friends. After all, when it comes to cat collectibles you never know what you’ll turn up next.
From vintage cookie jars and collectible figurines to a bevy of varied ephemera, there’s a cat for every collector. Among the many items commonly found featuring cats are folk art, toys, greeting cards, and holiday collectibles, especially those revolving around Halloween.
These items range in price from a dollar or two for vintage postcards to thousands for fine art, so suiting every budget and taste isn’t a problem for cat-loving collectors. For more information on values, check out the recommended reference books as well as the price points listed below.
Cat Collectibles for Gift-Giving
People tend to be drawn to objects that take the form of things they adore both in terms of decor and collecting. Since so many people enjoy owning purring pets, the go-with items just tend to accumulate and suddenly a collection is born. It’s also nice that many older cat items perfect (or is that “purrfect?”) for gift-giving are still quite affordable.
A collection of miniature cat figurines from the early 1900s can warm up most any bare shelf or windowsill, while a framed birthday or Christmas postcard with a feline illustration can turn a fairly common item into an extraordinary keepsake. Jewelry lovers would likely enjoy a few vintage scatter pins to dress up a lapel. And perhaps best of all, these gift ideas are sure to please a cat lover without breaking the bank.
Learning More About Cat Collectibles
For more information on cat collectibles including lots of fun pictures, locate Collectible Cats (Books I & II) by Marbena Jean Fyke published by Collector Books. For a historical overview and everything from feline fine art right down the line, look up Purrrfection: The Cat by J.L. Lynnlee from Schiffer Publishing.
Cat Collectibles Price Points:
- Painted bronze picture frame with cat peering over top marked Geschutzt, ca. 1900 - $1,843
- McCoy Coalby black cat cookie jar, ca. 1967 - $450
- Beswick #1877 gray cat figurine, ca. 1960s - $225
- Postcard illustrated by Louis Wain - “Inside Passengers” depicting cats riding in train, ca. early 1900s - $128
- Cat papier-mâché jack-o-lantern - orange with paper face insert, ca. 1930s - $100
(eBay prices - 1/09)
