American Standard of Perfection

It classifies and describes the standard physical appearance, coloring and temperament for many breeds of poultry recognized in the United States, including chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese and guinea fowl, but not pigeons.

The earliest book of breed standards for the poultry fancy in North America was published in 1867 as the Standard of Excellence, under the auspices of the American Poultry Society; the first such work to be published by the American Poultry Association – which was constituted in 1873/1874 – was the American Standard of Excellence in 1874.

The full title was The Standard of Excellence as adopted by the American Poultry Society, being a reprint of the same as compiled and adopted by the London Poultry Club, with alterations and additions, adapting it to America.

An illustrated edition, with drawings of the outlines of twenty birds, was published in 1888, but was later withdrawn.

The full title was The American Standard of Perfection, as adopted by the Association, at its twenty-second annual meeting, at Boston, Massachusetts, 1898.