It’s our 50th anniversary this year but our wonderful cat has been with us for just 40 years. A familiar sight to members and the public, it was designed by Edward Bawden. But where did it come from?

In early 1983 various members had attempted to produce an emblem for the PBFA, but new chairman Peter Miller recognised that the task should really be done by a professional. He particularly liked the work of Edward Bawden but had no idea how to get in touch with him. Happily member Veronica Watts stepped in and before long Peter was in touch with the artist.

The first response was not encouraging: “I’m too old – get a young Johnny” was Bawden’s candid reply. Peter was not to be put off however and eventually Bawden agreed to come up with one design that summer only, whilst working and holidaying in Cornwall.

In the autumn the cat arrived. “It was very striking,” remembers Peter. “It would work in any size. He always put a bit of humour into his work and he hadn’t lost his touch even though he was in his eighties.”

Bawden’s letter accompanying the design explained: “I have chosen a cat reclining on an open book to suggest pride in the possession of a good resting place... it is hoped that the emblem may suggest the pride felt by the collector who has at last found the book he always wished to possess, a book perhaps long out of print, that is a pleasure to read.”

Not all of the committee shared Peter’s enthusiasm, however. On the one hand, leading British artist Edward Bawden had incorporated one of his famous cats into a design; on the other, it was a fait accompli which left no room for manoeuvre. There are, after all, cat people and dog people. Did it send the right message? Was it right for us?

There was “a lively discussion” at the meeting but in the end it was passed by four votes to two. An emblem was born and from 1984 onwards the cat has been seen on banners, bags, badges and more. The PBFA’s slogan, “The sign of a good book fair”, was added later by member Brian Lake of Jarndyce.

As for the matter of payment, Bawden said that he was “not so interested in money anymore” but there was something on his mind. He had sold his book collection and regretted parting with some of them: in particular his 1938 Nonesuch Press edition of The Writings of Gilbert White, illustrated by his friend Eric Ravilious. Could we help? We certainly could. As it happened, one of our members had one and a deal was done.

“I then suggested that he do prints of it for members and he agreed straight away,” remembers Peter. “I think he only charged us £10 each for them – he did 80 in the end – and we were able to sell them to members for £15.”

The latest addition to our cat collection is very recent. In 2020, the cat was adapted to reflect our move into online fairs during the pandemic – the design, an ‘electronic’ version of our cat to celebrate this new world of online bookselling.

What is in store next for our cat, I wonder?