30 August 1982

Dear Mr Plant,

A lot of time has passed since I last wrote you for which I am sorry. There has been a vast number of problems concerning the forthcoming 6th edition of Bantam Standard which has taken a goodly amount of time in conferences and correspondence. In addition, due to my eyesight state, it took some time to get through your new book on the Pekin Bantam.

I was greatly impressed when I read your book. I know that it reflects the vast amount of research and correlation of the varying data which you must have performed so that it could be incorporated.

Upon reflection, I believe you have presented a substantial case that the Pekin Bantam originally came from China.

During my lifetime dating back to the 1920’s, Will F.Caskey, Topeka, Kansas, was the most famous breeder of Black Cochin Bantam in this country. His male line was particularly good and he often won champion Bantam of the show in many parts of the country. D.Ross Blanford, Albuquerque, NM, purchased the stud of Bantam of Will Caskey after the latter’s death. The Caskey strain has been continued by Blanford who has been a consistent winner. He just recently passed away. At the time I was writing the first Bantam Standard. A.L.Love, Mt Airy, North Carolina, was a Cochin Bantam Breeder who developed them in many different varieties and I worked closely with him in establishing the standard description.

I have never received the sketches you mentioned in the last paragraph of your letter of 10-3-82. Am I correct in assuming that the illustrations on pages 179 and 180 are the ideal illustration which we should use when we print out next standard including the Australian Pekin? I’m desperately in need of an illustration of a pair - the Australian Pekin Bantam - that you approve for publication.

Since there was trouble with the mail, please inform me whether you did receive a numbered copy of the 5th Edition of Bantam Standard which I mailed approximately last of August 1981. I hope it didn’t go astray.

Hope you’ve had a good winter.