KITTY TALES:
If you love cats as much as I do, then you probably love and appreciate Garfield and Kliban cats. Even though they are drastically different -- Garfield is a fat orange tabby with a large mouth, while Kliban is a Maine coon that hardly ever speaks--both are extremely popular with collectors and the general public as well.
Garfield first appeared in a syndicated comic strip in 1978, the creation of cartoonist Jim Davis while Kliban made his debut in a 1975 book by artist Bernard Kliban called Cat. Both cats achieved immediate popularity.
Kliban Cats: Bernard Kliban, who grew up in the Northeast, was an unlikely creator of Kliban because he was allergic to most furry creatures. After a stint at the Pratt Institute in New York City where he flunked most of his art classes, he moved to San Francisco during the 60’s and that’s where his art career took off. He made a fairly good living by selling his offbeat cartoons to Playboy Magazine and he declared a truce with felines (he lived with four distinctly different cats), which eventually became his inspiration. One of Playboy’s editors noticed his cat drawings and urged Kliban to put together a book and in 1978, Cat was born selling hundreds of thousands of copies. What was so unique about Kliban’s art was the fact that he used a black and white tabby in expressive and humorous poses, often with just a touch of red either somewhere on the cat, on shoes, roller skates or in other "accessories." Cat lovers everywhere fell in love with Kliban’s cats and his images (especially the cat wearing sneakers), appeared on coffee cups, pillowcases, candles, stationery, puzzles and T-shirts.
Jim Davis, an Indiana farm boy who became an artist and a writer, created Garfield in 1978 when he finally sold his comic strip to United Features Syndicate. Davis worked for over three years drawing and refining his image of a lovable cat known for its independence and love of sleep and food. Lazy, cynical and obsessed with food, Garfield was a huge success and in four years, reached over 55 million homes through distribution in 1200 newspapers. Another licensing success, Garfield eventually appeared on 6,000 collectibles, grinning, dancing, sleeping, eating his way into the homes and hearts of America. Today there are Garfield plush toys, ceramics, cookie jars (one of the most popular items), watches, plates, cups, and clocks. Says Garfield collector Sarah Anderson: " Garfield is often obnoxious, he’s overweight and he tells it like it is. But he’s just like most cats -- aloof and independent."
Collectors interested in either or both of these cats may have a difficult time finding the early editions; however, if they search garage sales and rummage sales, chances are they’ll find the old and the new. Even though the Kliban collectibles were made between 1976 to 1980, collectors remain devoted. Kliban ceramics were made by the Sigma company and only 50 different ceramics were created, making them even harder to find today as collectors scurry around scooping them up. Among the most popular are the "Mom-Pop" cookie jars which depicts a baby kitten emerging from a kangaroo-like pouch, the "Gramophone Salt-and-Pepper Shakers," the "Flying Ace" teapot and a Kliban cat head in the shape of a sugar bowl. Prices vary but a Kliban bank sells for around $75, the sugar bowl for $100 and most other collectibles (ceramics) selling in that range or for over $100. With Kliban’s death in the 90’s, prices soared even higher--a 12" coffee pitcher with a Kliban cat in a tuxedo and top hat sold in 1997 for $500. Even so, buyers beware: there are Kliban look-a-likes out there. To avoid buying a fake, look for a high glaze and red details painted on top with, round wide-open eyes. Look-a-likes have rough, dull exteriors with flat eyes, making the cat appear as though it is squinting.
Because Garfield pieces were made by Enesco in the thousands, collectors have a better chance of acquiring early items beginning in 1981. Some of these collectibles include dishes, teapots, figurines, candy dishes, cookie jars, picture frames, bookends and lots more. Prices can range from $50 to $300 yet it is Garfield’s cookie jar from the 80’s that draws the highest price --upwards of $500. Even so, bargains are out there: someone recently bought the latter at a garage sale for $20, selling it later on for $450. Due to the number of cat owners in this country, not counting cat collectors, the popularity and value of both cats can only increase as time goes on.
Garfield:
