BACKWELL JOGRAM (1897)


HISTORICAL BACKGROUND | PARENTAGE & OWNERSHIP | SIBLINGS & SHOWS | BREEDING & PROGENY
PHOTOS | SOCIAL MEDIA | REFERENCES

Cropped from Book plate, opp.Pg36, from 'Cats for Pleasure and Profit' (1909 edition) by Frances Simpson, courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.
The National Cat Club, Medal for 'Best Long-Haired Smoke', won by Mrs. H.V.James', 'Backwell Jogram', at the Botanic Gardens Show, 1898. Photos: Courtesy of Missi & Christopher Eimer collection of Cat Medals (London).

The Cat Club Challenge Cup Medal, National Cat Club, Brighton, 1899. Photos: Courtesy of Missi & Christopher Eimer collection of Cat Medals (London).

The Cat Club Challenge Cup Medal. Three wins. 1898, 1899, 1900. Photos: Courtesy of Missi & Christopher Eimer collection of Cat Medals (London).

The Cat Club Challenge Cup Medal, 1900. Photos: Courtesy of Missi & Christopher Eimer collection of Cat Medals (London).

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:

It was not until 1893 that Smoke Persian cats, were finally considered sufficiently popular, to deserve a class to themselves at Shows, having formerly been relegated to the 'any other colour' class.

In 1903, Frances Simpson describes the correct form of the ideal smoke as follows:

"It is a shaded cat without markings, the fur being pure white underneath, and gradually assuming an almost black tone on the outer coat. The face, paws, and back, down to the tip of the tail, are the darkest parts, shading to a dark grey down the sides, and on the underpart of the tail. A very great beauty in smokes is the light frill and ear tufts, which lend an air of much distinction, to this breed. The great failings in many smokes, is the appearance of tabby markings; these especially mar the beauty of the head and face, and take away their value in the show pen. The tail should be quite free of any rims of light and dark, and should have the upper part and even dark colour, and underneath a cinder grey.

"It is most important that the coat of a smoke should be long and of the true Persian flakiness, otherwise the chief beauty of the contrast between the light undercoat and the dark outer-coat is not seen to full advantage.

"It is curious that when the kittens are first born, they appear almost a dead black, with no trace of a white under-coat. This appears gradually as the kittens grow, and at three weeks old the lighter coat becomes visible. Their faces and paws should be intensely black when born, as the tendency in smokes is to get lighter and not darker.

"As with black kittens, so with smokes; they are often very rusty in appearance, but this will disappear with their kitten coat. This also applies to tabby markings, though, of course, if there is any tabby blood in the strain, the markings may be retained. For this reason it is most undesirable to mate smokes with tabbies; neither is it advisable to select a blue as a cross. The blue tinge destroys the purity of the white undercoat, which is one of the glories of a perfect smoke.

"Perhaps the most consistent and successful breeder of smokes now in the fancy is Mrs. H.V.James, who started in 1893, and has been faithful to this breed ever since. I have had the pleasure of visiting Mrs. James's smoke cattery, and I felt that the lovely old-fashioned garden surrounding the Grange at Backwell was truly an ideal place for successfully rearing live stock of any kind, and all the pussies were pictures of robust health."1

PARENTAGE & OWNERSHIP:

"Jogram is owned and was bred by Mrs. H.V.James, who is one of the most enthusiastic breeders of this handsome variety".2

'Backwell Jogram' was born on 2nd April, 1897, sired by Mrs. James's own 'Backwell Jubilee' (1893), himself bred by Mr. J. Trousdale, and out of 'Backwell Jill'(1894), who had been bred by Miss Bray.

Mrs. James, gives this account of the acquisition of 'Backwell Jill', the eventual loss of 'Backwell Jubilee' and the birth and retention of 'Jogram':

"At the Palace in 1894, I bought a smoke female kitten from Miss Bray as a mate for 'Jubilee'. This mating proved successful, and I had several grand litters of smokes, most of which, I am sorry to say, went to swell the ranks of neuter pets, being given as presents to my friends. In time I learnt wisdom, however, and kept my smokes myself. 'Jubilee's career as a show cat was unfortunately cut short after his Brighton win in 1894. He escaped one night, and in a fight with another cat had his ears so torn that I was unable to exhibit him again. A year later, when I was away from home, he was let out one day, and never returned, having, I expect, been trapped in the woods. At that period my smokes nearly died out, as I had only one litter a few weeks old by 'Jubilee'. Of the two smokes, one was promised, and the other I kept, and he is still alive as 'Champion Backwell Jogram'."

        Unknown
    Blackwell Jubilee, Black Smoke
    |   Unknown
Backwell Jogram,Apr-2-1897, Black Smoke M
    |   Tomato, Blue
    Backwell Jill, Smoke
        Silverina

SIBLINGS & SHOWS:

As can be determined from the above statement, earlier siblings were all desexed, and Jogram's one litter mate promised to another, so that Jogram was the sole surviving cat from the original combination of 'Jubilee' and 'Jill'.

Frances Simpson further tells us:

"Champion Backwell Jogram was the first Smoke champion and the winner of many 1st prizes, medals and specials".2

The above claim and subsequent medal wins are evidenced by the images of Jogram's medals on this page, which are indeed most fortunate to have been preserved, in the collection of Cat Medals belonging to Missi and Christopher Eimer of London, who have generously photographed them, granting permission for us to feature them in this history of Jogram. The medals show that he was successfully exhibited at shows run by both the National Cat Club and The Cat Club, winning Best Longhaired Smoke in successive years, in 1898, 1899, and 1900.

In addition, Frances Simpson informs us:

"At the Crystal Palace Show, 1901, this fine Persian cat won the special offered by the Duchess of Bedford for the best Smoke male in the show".2

BREEDING & PROGENY:

Mrs. James then enlightens us about her aspirations for the progression of the bloodline:

"I hope, however, that for some years, at least, Jubilee's descendants will continue to flourish, as there are a number of Jogram's kittens scattered over England, and several have left these shores for America."

Among his more notable progeny in England, the following females were retained for breeding by Mrs. James, these four all being from a pairing with his half-sister, 'Backwell Judy', a daughter of 'Jubilee'.

  1. Backwell Joyful , born May 13th, 1899
  2. Backwell Jael, born May 13th, 1899
  3. Backwell Julia, born March 24th, 1900
  4. Backwell Joker, born July 10th, 1900

'Joyful' was later bred to another well-known smoke cat 'Teufel' owned by Mrs. Sinkin, combining both famous smoke strains to produce 'Queenie' the dam of 'Teufel II'.

A smoke male, 'Bulger' bred from Jogram by Mrs. Harber, born 18th May 1900, appears in the studbook as the sire of a number of other smokes.

Another litter, bred by Mrs. Langford Sainsbury by Jogram and out of Mrs. Sainsbury's unnamed 'Smoke' resulted in a male, 'Backwell Jogram II' and 'Backwell Jollygirl', both which are shown to be owned by Mrs. James.

PHOTOS:

Two splendid photos of Ch.Backwell Jogram, the first from 'Cats for Pleasure & Profit' (1909 edition) and the second from The Book of the Cat (1903), both by Frances Simpson. Images courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.
 
This illustration of Ch.Backwell Jogram3, was produced by artist Rosa Bebb, who was commissioned to produce over 100 studies from life, for the new book, 'Rabbits, Cats & Cavies' written by Charles H.Lane, F.Z.S, and published in 1903 by J.M.Dent and Company, London. Charles Lane was a member of the National Cat Club from its foundation, a personal friend and admirer of Harrison Weir, an active dog and cat fancier, breeder, judge and author. This image comes from an original edition, formerly owned by the Earl of Belmore, courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection.

SOCIAL MEDIA :

From Frances Simpson, we quote the following:

"He has sired many noted winners, and is much in request as a stud cat."2

The misspelling of his name (which appears to be a regular problem, even with some of the engraved medals) shows in this 'stud' advertisement, which appears in the Cattery Advertising section of most of the 1903 issues of 'Our Cats'.

This collectable card is from the Cowan's Noted Cats Series of 1925 4 Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

REFERENCES:

  1. The Book of the Cat, by Frances Simpson, 1903.
  2. Cats for Pleasure and Profit by Frances Simpson. Cassell & Co Ltd., 1909 edition.
  3. Rabbits Cats & Cavies, by Charles H.Lane, F.Z.S. J.M.Dent and Company, London, 1903.
  4. Cowans Noted Cats Series' of Collectible cards, 1925
  5. Photos and Quotations as per credits noted.

Registers associated with this article include The Incorporated Cat Fanciers Association of Great Britain (TICFAGB), National Cat Club (NCC), The Cat Club (CCR), Beresford Cat Club (BCC), Feline Federation Francaise (FFF), Siamese Cat Registry (SCR), US Register & Studbook for Cats (USR)including Supplement(USRS), The Studbook of the American Cat Association (ACA), and the Studbook & Register of the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA).

 


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