Here we have a lovely Cairn Terrier, all the way from the Scottish Highlands and the Isle of Skye. Before 1873 it was one of many dogs collectively known as "Scottish Terriers",. However, on its first attempt at gaining a unique identity, in the early 1900s, under the name of a "short-haired Skye Terrier", met with opposition from the Skye Terrier Club, who feared that it would dilute their bloodlines if the two were allowed to join together. This led to the new name of a Cairn Terrier, under which it successfully applied to the American Kennel Club for registration in 1903. For some reason no application was made to the Kennel Club here in Great Britain until 1912, at which time there were just over a hundred and thirty dogs.
In 1917 there was another change, when the American Kennel Club clamped down on the exhibition of white coloured Cairn Terrier, and required them to move to classes with its cousin, the "West Highland Terrier", whose first breed specific club had been founded in 1904, though at that time it was known as either the Roseneath Terrier, or the Pittenweem Terrier, with the breed only being renamed to a "West Highland Terrier" in 1909.
Sadly I have been unable to trace very much about this fine specimen, Divor of Gunthorpe, only that he was American, Canadian, and English Champion, and the first Cairn to hold all three of those worthy titles. I know that Gunthorpe is a village in Nottinghamshire, on the River Trent, presumably with links to the owner, Mrs. A. Dixon, who was also a renowned judge. As for the breeder, that seems to be looking like it was Mrs. Betty Hyslop, from Brockville, Ontario, in Canada, who was renowned for breeding both Cairn Terriers and Great Danes, which led to her dogs being given the bloodline name of "Cairndania".
This set first appears under "Notes on Current Series" in Volume two, number 15 of The London Cigarette Card Company`s "Cigarette card News" magazine, dated December 1934. That entry was written by Mr. C. L. Porter, and it reads :
- Ardath Tobacco Co., Ltd. Champion Dogs. 25 large cards. To my mind, the best of this month`s issues. Quite excellent coloured reproductions of celebrated prize winners. There have been other dog issues of equal merit so far as the actual pictures are concerned, but this series has the unique feature of giving the correct points of each breed on the back with illustrated diagrams. I can recommend this series to all dog lovers, and it should be in all general collections.
It is next described in our original reference book to the Ardath issues, RB.6, published in 1943, as
- November 1934. 25. CHAMPION DOGS (titled series). Size 3 3/4" x 2 5/8".. Numbered 1-25. Printed 4 colours from half-tone blocks,black frame lines, white margin. Backs printed in black, showing outline of dog with championship points. Captioned "issued with Ardath Cork & State Express 333 Cigarettes". Also issued abroad.
Strangely, it is also featured in our original reference book to the issues by British AmericanTobacco, as :
- 370. CHAMPION DOGS. Extra large cards, size 95 x 67 m/m. Front in colour. Back in black, diagram of dog in centre with prominent features pin pointed. Numbered series of 25.
A. Anonymous issue, with letterpress on back. Panel at base inscribed "No. ... of a Series of 25 Championship Dogs."
B. Ardath issue. Panel at base inscribed "A Series of 25 Championship Dogs. Issued with Ardath Cork & State Express 333 Cigarettes
The front index reveals the anonymous version to have been issued in South Africa, in 1934 - though this does raise the question as to why it comes first in the entry.
In our original World Tobacco Issues Index, these two are separated. The Ardath issue appears in the main body of the text, as ;
- CHAMPION DOGS. Lg. Nd. (25) See RB.21/370.B ... A72-17
However the anonymous issue is at the back of the book, under "Anonymous Issues (1) with Letterpress on back" as :
- CHAMPION DOGS. Lg. 94 x 67. Nd. (25) See RB.21/370. Issued in S. Africa. Special album issued, inscribed with Westminster name ... ZB6-14
Both these entries remain the same in our updated version of that work, with just new card codes, Ardath`s becoming A745-280, and the anonymous version altering to ZB07-190