Before Paris 1926: the Birman story begins earlier

History did not start with one photograph

Accounts often describe the international cat show at Salle Wagram in Paris in May 1926 as the Sacred Birman’s debut. This remains an important event, supported by contemporary press photographs, but it is not necessarily the beginning of the historical record.

Birmakredsen’s investigation of early French newspapers, veterinary literature and exhibition results points to earlier evidence. It is essential to distinguish the three dates 1922, 1925 and 1926.

1922 – a female cat called a Birman

On 23 December 1922, La Liberté mentioned Mme Léotardi in connection with a female cat called a « chatte de Birmanie ». The description refers to a Siamese-like appearance and white feet. This is an important contemporary example of the term being applied to a particular cat in France.

The passage does not name the cat. We cannot establish that she was Poupée de Madalpour, despite the chronological possibility. Nor should a press presentation automatically be treated as evidence of participation in an organised cat show.

1925 – Mme Léotardi at Angers

The prize list published in L’Express d’Angers et de l’Ouest on 14 June 1925 includes two entries for « Chat de Birmanie », both associated with Mme Léotardi. One records a female awarded first prize; the other records a young cat awarded third prize. Both have catalogue number 317.

These entries document an exhibition result predating Paris 1926, but two prize lines with the same number do not prove that two distinct cats were present. One cat may have been entered in different classes, or the printed numbering may be wrong. Neither entry identifies the cat by name.

14 June 1925 is the newspaper’s publication date, not a newly verified date for the individual judging. The complete original catalogue remains a vital missing source.

1925 – the breed in veterinary literature

In his 1925 thesis Les Races de Chats, the veterinarian Philippe Jumaud discusses Chat de Birmanie and Mme Léotardi’s experience with litters. The two males in the relevant table are identified only as Sujet I and Sujet II; later names cannot simply be assigned to them.

This contemporary veterinary text shows that the breed and its breeding history were under serious discussion before the famous Paris show.

1926 – Salle Wagram, Paris

The May 1926 cat exhibition at Salle Wagram remains an important milestone. The Bibliothèque nationale de France preserves contemporary Agence Rol photographs, including a photograph catalogued with Mme Marcelle Adam and a Sacred Birman. The image offers genuine evidence of a historic cat’s appearance.

Nevertheless, the Angers prize list predates it. The two events preserve different types of evidence: an exhibition result in 1925 and photographs in 1926.

Was Angers the very first cat show?

At present, Angers 1925 is the earliest documented show appearance identified in the source material we have examined. That does not prove it was the first exhibition anywhere. Earlier catalogues and newspapers may yet yield older evidence.

It is crucial to distinguish the 1922 press mention, the 1925 prize list and the 1926 photographic record. Each source proves something different.

The research continues

We are still searching for the original Angers exhibition catalogue, judging records, photographs and older exhibition reports. We hope to identify catalogue number 317 and link early cats to reliable names and pedigrees.

The Sacred Birman’s history should not merely be repeated. It should be checked against original evidence and revised as new documents appear.