Library Company of Philadelphia
Hope you’re having a better Wednesday than these cats.
They probably just need a few scritches. Well maybe not that one of the right, best to just leave that one alone for now.
House cat and wild cat (can you tell the difference?) detail from John Johnston. A Description of the nature of four-footed beasts. Amsterdam, 1678.
This #FelineFriday feature is from the back wrapper on our copy of A Brief Biographical Sketch of I.A. Van Amburgh (New York, 1860). Van Amburgh is credited with developing the first trained wild animal act, and would often place his bare arm, and sometimes his head, within the jaws of a wild cat. His act influenced many circus performances after him.
Known as “The Lion King”, Van Amburgh was criticized in his time for his brutal treatment of animals.
A Brief biographical sketch of I.A. Van Amburgh.
New York, Samuel Booth, 1860.