Current Events & Trends | December 2018 | Rebecca Rego Barry

The British Library's Cool Cats

The British Library recently opened an exhibition with super meow-power: Cats on the Page, on view through March 17, presents an array of books, manuscripts, and artwork that features felines.

"Cats have inspired our imagination and creativity for many years--long before their days of dominance on the internet," Alison Bailey, lead curator of the exhibition, commented in a press release. "By bringing cats we know and love together with new ones from unexpected sources, Cats on the Page showcases the light-hearted side of the British Library's world-class collections through a selection of just some of the hundreds of paws prowling the pages of its books and manuscripts."

Here are five of those cool cats:

theprettyplayfultortoiseshellcatlondon1817cthebritishlibraryboard1 copy.jpgThe Pretty Playful Tortoise Shell Cat, London, 1817 (c) The British Library Board

tabbypolkabypbucalossi1865cthebritishlibraryboard copy.jpgTabby Polka by P- Bucalossi, 1865 (c) The British Library Board

pussysbreakfasttimelondonernestnister1892cthebritishlibraryboard copy.jpgPussy's Breakfast Time, London, Ernest Nister, 1892 (c) The British Library Board
jelliclecatsillustrationaxelschefflerpublishedinoldpossumsbookofpracticalcatsctseliotcfaberfaber copy.jpgJellicle Cats illustration (c) Axel Scheffler published in Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats (c) T. S. Eliot and Faber & Faber

kitty-in-boots-frederick-warne-and-co-2016-original-copyright-in-illustrations--quentin-blake-2016 copy.jpgKitty in Boots (c) Frederick Warne and co 2016, original copyright in illustrations (c) Quentin Blake, 2016

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