KING MAX (1895)


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

Photo: Concerning Cats (1900) by Helen M. Winslow. Courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:

If you were to ask any competent judge as to what they like to see most in a cat benched under their jurisprudence, they are likely to comment on four main facets, health, type, temperament and presentation. But nothing pleases a judge more, than to be presented with a cat that not only 'looks great' and conforms to its own standard, but which clearly enjoys being shown. This makes it easy for the judge to show the cat off to observers, allowing the cat, to advertise itself to the public, so that they in turn, can judge for themselves, that a happy, well-kept pedigreed show cat can also enjoy a life as an appreciated and much-loved pet!

Of the early cats, although a great many may have had wonderful show temperaments, these are seldom reported, if ever reported. But in this case, 'KING MAX' is the exception. From Helen Winslow's Concerning Cats(1900), we have this wonderful report of 'King Max' and his amiable disposition when shown at Boston, between 1897 and 1899:

"King Max, a longhaired black male, weighing thirteen pounds at the age of one year, and valued at one thousand dollars, took first prizes in Boston in January 1897, '98, and '99. He is owned by Mrs. E.R. Taylor, of Medford, Mass., and attracts constant attention during shows.

"His fur is without a single white hair and is finger deep; his ruff encircles his head like a great aureole. He is not only one of the most beautiful cats I have ever seen, but one of the best-natured; as his reputation for beauty spreads among the visitors at the show, everybody wants to see him, and he has no chance at all for naps.

"Generally he is brought forward and taken from his cage a hundred times a day; but not once does he show the least sign of ill-temper, and even on the last day of the show he keeps up a continual low purr of content and happiness. Perhaps he knows how handsome he is."2

PARENTAGE & OWNERSHIP:

'King Max' (USR 458) was born 17th November, 1895, as the result of a breeding between 'King Royal' and 'Ch. Topsy'. In his Beresford Cat Club registration, he appears as a Black male with yellow eyes. But it is in the U.S. Register and Studbook registration of his daughter 'Martha' (USR 417) that we find the second generation behind him. 'King Royal' is listed with his sire as 'Sir Peter', and 'Topsy' is listed as sire unknown and dam as 'Scotia' (Imported). In neither the Beresford or U.S.Register listings is a breeder noted, but his owner in both is Mrs. Edgar B.Taylor, of Medford, Massachusetts. As Mrs. Taylor's cattery name was 'Mistic', he is sometimes referred to as 'Mistic King Max'.1

        Sir Peter
    King Royal, Smoke
    |   Unknown
King Max, Nov-17-1895, Black, M
    |   Unknown
    Topsey, Chinchilla
        Scotia, Silver

SIBLINGS & SHOWS:

'Silverton', (Smoke), a later full brother to 'King Max'
Photo: Concerning Cats (1900) 1
Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

One full sibling can be found, and this is a Black Smoke named 'Silverton', (BCC 263), born 1st July, 1897, as the result of a later repeat breeding. Once again, no breeder is listed, but the owner is recorded as Mrs. Florence Dyer of South Weymouth, Massachusetts. He is recorded as a 'Smoke' with green eyes.

'Silverton' (aka Silverton Silverton), as Mrs. Dyer's cattery name was Silverton, is also listed as the sire of 'Ruthia II',(BCC 934), a yellow eyed White female, bred by Mrs. Florence Dyer and owned by Dr. C.H. Harwood of Boston. The dam of Ruthia II, was 'Silverton Ruthia', an orange-eyed white female belonging to Mrs. Dyer, but bred by a Mrs. William Rogerson, of Newton, Massechusetts.3

Of Show wins by 'King Max' we know he took a first and a Special at Boston every year during 1897, 1898 and 1899. His younger sibling, 'Silverton' took a 1st at the Boston Show, of 1900.3

BREEDING & PROGENY:

Mrs. Evans seems to have used 'King Max' quite widely and there are a number of his progeny registered, either directly (numbered listings) or indirectly (as the sire or dam of other cats)in both the Beresford Cat Club Registers or The U.S. Register and Studbook for Cats (1906).1

In approximate chronological order we find:

TOPSY: (a daughter of 'King Max' and 'Olive') listed as the dam of 'Grizel' (BCC 280) who was born November 1897. That would mean that 'Topsy' was likely to have been born in late 1896, and may have been from one of the first litters to be sired by 'King Max'. No colour is given for 'Topsy'.3

MARTHA: (USR 417), born in April 1898, a Black & White female from a repeat breeding of 'King Max' to 'Olive'. 'Olive' who is listed a 'Cusic Olive' (BCC 145) was an imported white female, clearly masking Bi-Colour. Martha was bred by Mrs. Taylor, and sold to Mrs. W.M. Chapman, of Romeo, Michigan.1

'Martha', owned by Mrs. W. M. Chapman, sired by 'King Max'
Photo: Mrs. S.H. Bond. The U.S. Register and Studbook for Cats (1906) 1
Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

MISTIC MAGIC: (BCC 191), born October, 1898, a Black female, sired by 'King Max' and out of a dam named 'Maxine' or 'Maxine' as we have two similar registrations with slightly conflicting information. This first female 'Magic' is registered as 'Oasis Magic' as she was first owned by Mrs. Mary B. Thurston of Rhode Island. She later changed hands, becoming the property of Dr. Ottonegui of Newport, Rhode Island, and with that change, became 'Saratoga Magic' and was relisted.3

But she appears to have a possible full sister, called BLACK BEAUTY (BCC 283), who has no date of birth, and from a dam named 'Maxime II'. Interestingly, both 'Magic's dam 'Maxine' and 'Beauty's dam 'Maxime II' are themselves from the same parentage, being 'Black Prince' and 'Merry Girl', which leads us to consider that they may in fact be one and the same cat and then 'Magic' and 'Beauty' could be siblings.3

BLACK BEAUTY: (BCC 283) was a Black female, bred by Mrs. Taylor, and also first owned by Mrs. Mary B. Thurston of Rhode Island, but she was subsequently passed to Mrs. Florence I. Vivell, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, before later becoming the property of Mrs. Frank L. Norton of Cazenovia, New York.3

JERROLD: a male of unknown colour, listed in the USR as grandsire of 'KAISER' (USR 454), with Jerrold himself recorded as being sired by 'King Max' and out of 'Olive'. (So a full sibling to both 'Magic' and 'Beauty').1

TREASURE: (USR 459), born 4th February, 1899, a Brown Tabby female sired by 'King Max' and out of 'Mittens' (USR 457). Mittens is listed an an 'unknown' colour and with an unknown pedigree.1

But from this breeding came two other known progeny, one registered and one indirect listing. These were:

SENTIMENTAL TOMMY: (BCC 279), born 4th February, 1899, a Black Neuter, with orange eyes, sired by 'King Max' and out of 'Mittens'. In this case he is bred by Mrs. F.E. Smith of Chicago, and sold to Mrs. Florence I. Vivell, of Hot Springs, Arkansas.3

DOROTHY: a female found in Volume I of the Register of the American Cat Association, where she is listed as the grand-dam of 'Belle-Maxine', (ACA 111), sired by 'King Max II' who is from 'Dorothy'. She is then herself recorded as a daughter of 'King Max' and 'Mittens'.4

Then two more indirect listings linked to 'King Max' from other dams:

BLUEBELL: a daughter of 'King Max' and 'Silvermist' who is listed as the dam of 'Thistle' (BCC 164)3

CRICKET: a daughter of 'King Max' and 'Rosebud', who is listed as the dam of 'Lady Raven' (BCC 785) a daughter of 'Lockehaven Prince Colburn'. 3

PHOTOS:

'King Max', the black Persian owned by Mrs. Edgar R. Taylor of Massachusetts.
Renowned for is beauty, both within and without.

Photo: Lothrop, Lee and Shephard Co. 'The U.S. Register and Studbook for Cats (1906)1
Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

'King Max' the delegate from Massachusetts
Photo on the occasion of the Chicago Cat Club Show, December 1898

Photo: The Bazar 14th December, 1898 5
Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

For three consecutive years, 'King Max' caused a sensation at the Boston Show. What a delight it must have been each time to see a happy healthy cat exhibited, presented in tip top condition, and who very clearly enjoyed all the attention he received. No doubt his very amiable personality would have helped to popularise the Persian breed in his day, while setting a memorable example for exhibits and exhibitors of the future to follow.

SOCIAL MEDIA :

Three Tortie and White grand-daughters of 'King Max',
by 'Rufus' and out of Max's daughter, 'Dorothy'.

From: Munsey's Magazine, September 1901. 6
Image courtesy of The Harrison Weir Collection

In Summary:

'King Max' caused a sensation at the Boston Show, for three consecutive years. What a delight it must have been each time to see a happy healthy cat exhibited, presented in tip top condition, and who very clearly enjoyed all the attention he received. No doubt his very amiable personality would have helped to popularise the Persian breed in his day, while setting a memorable example for exhibits and exhibitors of the future to follow.

REFERENCES:

  1. The U.S.Register and Studbook for Cats, 1906
  2. Concerning Cats, by Helen M. Winslow, 1900
  3. Register and Studbook of the Beresford Cat Club, Vols 1-4
  4. The Register and Studbook of the American Cat Association, Vol. 1
  5. The Bazar, 14th December, 1898
  6. Munsey's Magazine, September 1901. Article by Mabel Cornish-Bond
  7. Photos and quotations as per sources quoted.

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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