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marketers of Thomas’ Ink to feature a black
cat on signage, ads, ink blotters, and other
promotional items for its jet-black ink.
Carter’s Ink went in the other direction in the
1930s, though, picturing cats with rainbow-
colored fur – blue, green, yellow, red as well as
black, representing the multi-colored Carter’s
Ink product line.
Candy and cookies (or “biscuits” in
Europe) may well be our top-of-the-line cat
advertising examples because manufacturers
large and small produced so many wonderful
boxes that contained sweets. Langues de Chat,

well to promote shoes. Kitty Kat Shoes “Mysterious” is almost synonymous with
promotions are an all-time favorite of ours. cats, so you'll find cats illustrated on many
Goodrich rubber boots and Cat’s Paw rubber interesting board games, books, and
heels are other examples. magazines in the pre-radio, pre-TV, pre-
movie decades. We love their playfulness
shown on Kilkenny Cats, Robber
Kittens, Black Cat Dominoes, and Black
Cat Fortune Telling games, and even the
Black Cat detective book series and The
Black Cat magazine.
In fact, black cats may be the most translated to Cat Tongues, were so named
popular cat image and were likely to lend because the chocolate shape shared a slight
their name to entire product lines and resemblance to the anatomical part. These
even companies. Great examples are were sold under dozens of brand names and
Black Cat Hosiery, Chat Noir Coffee in a wide assortment of decorative paper and
(and many Chat Noir or Black Cat cafês tin packaging. In Europe, colorful cat-
and dance clubs across the United States themed containers were lavishly
and Europe), Black Cat Fireworks, Black
Cat Safety Matches, and Black Cat Stove
and Shoe Polishes.
Inky black fur
likely
Cleanliness is a well-known feline trait; inspired the
cats are always washing themselves so could
appropriately advertise soap, starch, polishes,
and cleaning solutions.
Kittens are very playful, so you can find
many examples of cats playing with various
thread and ribbon brands, including Clark’s,
Corticelli, Willimantic, and Corbett.
While products for the
home were mostly
advertised to women, felines
could appeal to men, too. Some
of our favorite “masculine” brands are
those for tobacco products including
Catlin’s, Tabby, Mr. Thomas cigars,
Catchy, and Two Toms cigars. Our favorite
alcohol examples include Old Tom
Gin with the cat resting comfortably on
his master’s chair, and Black Cat Whiskey.
Black Cat Cigarettes appealed to women
shoppers as smoking was considered acceptable
for ladies in the early 1900s.

30 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles