A case of unfin-ished history

It’s not only credit card ventures and design groups who want to reap the benefits of having a cold-blooded gilled animal swimming across their stationery.

Other organisations, it turns out, also like being represented by the red Chinese carp.

And, in fact, the goldfish logo concept was dreamt up long before Michael Wolff took authorship of it.

The Goldfish Club was founded in 1942 for airmen who came down in the sea during World War II.

Logo design was by the club’s founder Robbo. Unfortunately, Robbo could shed no light on the symbolism of his design as “of course, he’s dead now”, says the club’s present president Jim Burtt-Smith.

Despite the plagiarism of Robbo’s work, Jim will not be taking legal action against British Gas or Addison.

Although he does suggest British Gas might like to make a donation to the club and feature its logo on future credit cards. A way of giving his fish the oxygen of publicity, no doubt.