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Antique Framed Print : Sniffer Cats at Customs
Framed Photos from Mary Evans Picture Library
Sniffer Cats at Customs
At a London customs office, two cats on the payroll at 3d a day, to detect smuggled goods
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 610913
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10119792
Baggage Cats Crime Detect Goods Off Ice Searching Smuggled Smugglers Sniffer 1935
14"x12" (36x31cm) Antique Frame
Bevelled wood effect frame, card mounted, 10x8 archival quality photo print. Overall outside dimensions 14x12 inches (36x31cm). Environmentally and ozone friendly, the Polycore® moulding has the look of real wood, is durable and light and easy to hang. Biodegradable and made with non-chlorinated gases (no toxic fumes) it is efficient; producing 100 tons of polystyrene can save 300 tons of trees! Prints are glazed with lightweight, shatterproof, optical clarity acrylic (providing the same general protection from the environment as glass). The back is stapled hardboard with a sawtooth hanger attached. Note: To minimise original artwork cropping, for optimum layout, and to ensure print is secure, the visible print may be marginally smaller
Bevelled Wood Effect Framed and Mounted Prints - Professionally Made and Ready to Hang
Estimated Image Size (if not cropped) is 17.9cm x 24.4cm (7" x 9.6")
Estimated Product Size is 31.2cm x 36.3cm (12.3" x 14.3")
These are individually made so all sizes are approximate
Artwork printed orientated as per the preview above, with portrait (vertical) orientation to match the source image.
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this intriguing photograph from the annals of customs history, two feline detectives diligently search for hidden contraband among the piles of luggage at a bustling London customs office in the 1930s. The cats, both members of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Service, were employed on a modest payroll of threepence a day to use their acute senses to detect smuggled goods. The use of cats as sniffer animals in customs offices dates back to ancient Egypt, where felines were revered for their keen sense of smell. However, it was not until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that the practice gained widespread popularity in Europe and North America. The cats were often housed in specially designed enclosures near the baggage inspection areas, where they could easily detect the scent of smuggled goods. Their keen sense of smell allowed them to detect a wide range of contraband, from foodstuffs like tea, coffee, and tobacco, to more illicit items such as drugs and weapons. The cats were particularly effective at detecting smuggled foodstuffs, as their sense of smell was far more acute than that of humans. Despite their popularity, the use of cats as customs detectives was not without controversy. Critics argued that the cats were not reliable and could be easily bribed or distracted. However, their supporters maintained that the cats were an essential tool in the fight against smuggling and that their presence deterred many would-be smugglers. This photograph captures a moment in time when these extraordinary animals played a vital role in the enforcement of customs regulations, adding an intriguing chapter to the history of customs and crime. The two cats in the photograph, with their intense focus and determined expressions, remind us of the important role that animals have played in the detection of smuggled goods throughout history.
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