These Folks Get It: Cats Are Magic!

March 03, 2026

Ailurophiles and bibliophiles are often one in the same. These limited edition books were all printed by small presses that specialize in small batch, fine letterpress books. They all highlight the joy and comfort that cats bring to our world.

Sun Cat by Marvin R. Hiemstra is a miniature pop-up book about a cat named Shine whose human moves from a small country town to a big city. Once in his new home, Shine goes on a mission to find the sun (for taking naps in, of course), making new friends along the way. The cat theme goes further than this book’s subject matter. The miniature book was published by Juniper von Phitzer Press. The company was founded by the author and his life partner, LLoyd L. Neilson. “Juniper von Phitzer” was the Lloyd’s pen name in addition to the name of his publishing house. The name was inspired by his three cats: Juniper, Von, and Phitzer. The press specialized in the publication of miniature books, producing more than seventy miniature books of which Marvin authored twenty-seven. Special Collections & Archives holds a copy of Sun Cat that is signed by both Lloyd and Marvin.

A Portfolio of Cats by Robert Quick contains 12 color block prints, limited to 100 copies, and signed by the author. It was published in 1956 by Peregrine Press. The prints are simple line expressions that expertly capture the movement of cats as well as their ability to twist into seemingly impossible contortions. The Peregrine Press was part of a charmed space established by Henry Evans in San Francisco housed within an antiquarian and secondhand bookstore (the Porpoise Bookshop), an art gallery, a letterpress printer, a publisher, and fine printmakers. With the help of his wife, Patricia, Evans published works by little known local artists like Robert Quick, among other treasures.

Cat Letters: the Correspondence of an Ailurophile by Jean Krenzer is a selection of letters written to the printer, Robin, from her neighbor, author and cat fancier Jean Krenzer, about Robin’s cat who she calls Mary Chifalda (chifalda meaning “the spoiled one” in colloquial Spanish). The letters are witty tongue-in-cheek observations of Robin’s snooty cat. In one letter Krenzer describes a scene: “Through the studio window I saw Chiflada atop the stack of fence posts grooming her black fur coat, slowly, sensuously, until it glistened in the light filtering through the orange tree leaves. With each long lick I heard her say to herself: ‘Love that body! Love that body!’ Well, I suppose there is nothing wrong with self-appreciation unless it becomes narcissistic.” Even though the letters describe an outlandish cat, the writing betrays a deep appreciation for the animal. Robin also graced the cover of the book with her cat’s paw prints. Robin established her press in the Los Angeles area in 1984, under the imprint Lavender Armadillo Press, later revised to Robin Price, Printer & Publisher.

All three books are homages to felines that highlight their quirky personalities and singular talents in unique ways.

Image Gallery

Post tagged as: special collections, rare books, california