The Kitty Book Pawn is a small Étui piece devoted to beginnings, commitment, and the dignity of steady forward motion. In chess, the pawn moves without retreat, representing choices made in earnest and carried through without reversal. Unique among the pieces, a pawn may transform through endurance, becoming something greater by crossing the board rather than by inheritance. It stands for progress earned over time.

This pawn carries its own penny, bearing two humble and powerful symbols: a house cat and a book. Together, they speak to rest and curiosity, independence and learning, and the long work of becoming something meaningful from modest beginnings.

Penny Details

Heads, the Cat
The cat is inscribed Solis sui domina, “sovereign of herself.” It symbolizes independence, discernment, and chosen stillness. The cat does not rush or submit to noise. It observes, withdraws, and acts only when it chooses, a reminder to rest unapologetically and maintain self-possession.

Tails, the Book
The book bears the inscription Cogito cresco, “I think, I grow.” It stands for learning as a living process. Growth here is cumulative rather than performative, shaped by deep thought and return. The book is open, underscoring that learning is ongoing, not fixed or confined to the past.