This is not so much a lecture as a slideshow with comments. What I hope to demonstrate is the variety of forms taken by the Island's three leopards and to suggest that there are some trends in the way they have been depicted that perhaps tell us something about how they symbolise the Island.

The first question to consider is: are they leopards? They are traditionally known as leopards, and it is quite clear that in French heraldic terminology a léopard is a lion passant guardant:

The emblem of Normandy is two or three leopards (70) - or the cross of St. Olav.

The Bailiff, Sir William Venables Vernon, in his correspondance with the Lt-Gov in 1906 claimed that the Island's arms were leopardised lions. There is also a suggestion from Norman sources that early leopardised lions were indeed fabulous creatures with the head of a lion and the body of a leopard.

Another theory as to the cause of this sort of representation is that in monochrome heraldic representation the metal or (gold) is shown in code as dots on a white background. Mistaken copying and colouring gave rise to spotted lions instead of gold lions.

My main point though is not the origin of the leopards - the seal with the three leopards was granted by Edward I in 1279 - but what we have done with them.

Let's start close to home:

We are familiar with the Société's use of the three leopards. Here is the logo (1). We can also look on the gates outside, Jersey Museum entrance (21) and at the new carpet (75). It is also interesting to look at an older version, here taken from the 10th Bulletin (2).

We are probably carrying around several different representations of the leopards on us at this moment:

Banknotes (22), Social Security card (78), Library card (48)

And even here we can see that even the "official" forms vary widely. There is little standardisation and no control over the use of the the three leopards. Some countries lay down quite specifically and legally the form in which the state symbol can be used and for what purpose. This is not the case in Jersey - even the form of the leopards on the new flag adopted in 1981 varies considerably. It is worth having a look to see the different versions. In any case, the leopards on the flag bear little resemblance to any version used by the States or States departments, who might be expected to show a little conformity.

States logo (3) (31) (32), Driver and Vehicle Standards (15), Fire Service (18), Financial Services Commission (19), Met Department (20), Treasury (37) on notes (22), Police (30), Income tax (35), library (48), Gold stamp (59), Elizabeth Terminal (71), Island Plan 1981 (84), Impôts (Customs and Excise) (83)

We even get considerable variation in colour: black (3), red (32), blue (28)

Perhaps the most interesting current variation is used by the Information Technology Commission (6)

If we look at some older C20th States uses of the symbol we find the following:

Telecoms 1933 (36), Official guide 1939 (46), Official guide 1925 (45), Info 46 (43), States 46 (61), States 67 (62), States 71 (63),

As we can see, the leopards can be simplified, cut up, re-arranged, and abstracted. Often this is done to make an ancient symbol represent thrusting dynamism, energy, power and progress - which is the message the bodies using the symbol wish to convey. But most modern representations of the leopards share one characteristic: the leopards are shaggy and angular, sometimes showing a certain wildness or strength.

However if we look at some older representations we can see that they look more like pictures of pussycats:

Bank (10), JCG (7), Cattle Street (11), market (49) (25), Piquet House (29), reglemens pour la Milice 1833 (56), Nouvelle Chronique de Jersey masthead 1891 (73)

One is most likely to find spotted leopards in the C19th, or even earlier:

Beautiful Jersey 1900 (4), Falle (17), Ecréhous (24), Sullivan Don 1884 (33) detail (34), Falle A sketch of the Island of Jersey 1853 (47), safety of Jersey 1841 (50), a sketch of the Island of Jersey 1851 (51), articles of the Chamber of Commerce 1796 (57), rapport du comité des chaussées 1797 (65), JA&HS 1835 (58), a brief account of Queen Victoria's first visit to Jersey 1896 (66) detail (67), 10th Bulletin (2)

But maned lions are also to be found:

Black's road map of Jersey 1898 (5), market (25), States new information and facts about Jersey 1946 (43)

Some clearly leopardised lions can be found - half lion, half leopard.

RJA&HS 1946 (54) detail (55), views of the Island of Jersey 1880's (60)

Because the use of the leopards has not been strictly controlled, associations and bodies have used the symbol in their own way:

Nat West bank (10), Channel TV (14), Eisteddfod (16), WI (42), RJA&HS (55), RJA&HS 1835 (58)

Victoria College presents many interesting variations on the theme:

Victoria College door (39), College van (40), Victorian 1977 (41), Victoria College letterhead (68), Victoria College gate (80)

It is not just Victoria College buildings that boast interesting leopards. The Town Hall entrance which is under restoration has some nicely repainted leopards. In the Assembly Room, the Connétable's chair (72) is worth a look (note the roses - a sign of past political affiliation), the plaque to Connétable Pinel (74) has some nice leopards, as do the plaques of past Connétables.

The tunnel under Fort Regent (38), the Telecoms building (36) which has just been redone, the Piquet House (29), the Market (25), Liberation Square (23), Caesarea Court (12) where the leopards have now been put behind bars by the new railings (69), Convent Court (77), Market Street entrance to the market (81), Ariadne, the Steam Clock (9).

A few oddities:

Ouless Ecréhous (24), Ouless Durell's Guide 1852 (26) detail (27), Sunny Jersey 1900 (44) - rather hippified! The Safety of Jersey 1841(50)

We end this brief tour with the Bailiwick seal (8), taking us back to 1279: