Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot – 1977 Illustrated Edition

This charming 1977 hardcover edition of Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot has clearly lived a life of its own—much like the mysterious, mischievous felines it describes. The cover has tanned over time and shows wear along the edges and hinges, with a few tears around the joints that speak to its years of quiet enjoyment. The dust jacket is price clipped on the lower corner of the inside flap but has been lovingly placed in a protective wrapper to preserve what remains.

Now, let me tell you—this isn’t just a book of poems. It’s a philosophy of cats disguised in whimsy. Every time I turned a page, I felt Eliot was speaking directly to the cats I’ve known throughout my life. There was the aloof and inscrutable one who reminded me of Macavity, and the plump and punctual one who could’ve passed for Bustopher Jones. It was like unlocking a secret feline language I didn’t even know I’d been fluent in.

Eliot’s musings invite us to consider the idea that cats, like people, contain multitudes—each one with a name for the family, a name for daily use, and a true name, ineffable and unknowable. It’s a surprisingly deep thought nestled in verse that dances with cleverness. Who knew a book that inspired a Broadway musical could also inspire a moment of existential reflection?

Whether you're a lifelong cat lover or simply curious about the social hierarchies of the whiskered world, this edition offers both delight and insight. And like the cats it celebrates, it doesn’t age so much as it becomes more itself with time.