Object of the Day: A Trade Card for J. & P. Coats Thread

Meow, meow...cross the border here, meow.  

When I recently purchased a rather large job lot of antique trade cards, I discovered that the majority of them advertised the J. & P. Coats Thread Co.  While many Victorian trade cards such as these often depict cherubic children, the Coats cards seem to rely on a lot of cat imagery.  I find the prominence of these wise-eyed felines to be somewhat curious.  Perhaps it’s meant to reinforce the idea of cats playing with yarn and thread or…perhaps it’s something else.

I contend that the Coats concern had a scheme—some sort of feline plot to take over the world. 

Here’s evidence.  They’re clearly planning their attack.  Think about it, won’t you?