The Sable first appeared as a sport in Standard Chinchilla litters around 1919 according to a quote in Bob Whitman's book on the history of domestic rabbits. The American Sable Rabbit Association was formed in 1929, and the first working standard was adopted at the Forth Worth, Texas Convention Dec. 9, 1929. In 1976 Siamese Sable was dropped form the ARBA Standard of Perfection, and the American Sable was listed as Sable. 1981 only 1 Sable was shown at the ARBA show by Mr. Al Roerdanz of Ohio. He and a group of rabbit breeders re-created the breed, and by 1983 ARBA show in Colorado had presented sufficient numbers to keep the breed recognized by ARBA. In 1982 the American Sable Rabbit Club was formed. The current name is American Sable Rabbit Society. Website is American Sables
There are 4 color variations that possibly will be in an American Sable nest box. 1) Seal which has 2 copies of the c(chl) gene giving it a dark coloration - almost black color. 2) Sable (sometimes referred to as Siamese), this is the accepted show color. 3) Pointed white - Californian or Himi marked - has 2 copies of the ch gene or a ch gene and a c gene. 4) Albino (REW). Breeding a Seal to a Pointed White or an Albino will produce a litter of all show colored Sable.