Tuesday 19 January 2010

The Exeter Mail Coach



Another card from the box I rescued from the auction:

Lioness attacking horse of the Exeter Mail Coach outside the Pheasant Inn, Winterslow, near Salisbury, 1816.  The lioness, which had escaped from a travelling menagerie, was soon caught, and the horse is said to have continued its career on the roads for many years.
Coloured aquatint, engraved by R. Havell, published 17th February, 1817.

Two of the passengers in the coach ran into the house and locked themselves in, while a dog distracted the lioness.  An account in "Old Showmen and the Old London Fairs" gives a slightly different version which ends in the death of the dog and the horse.

6 comments:

  1. An interesting story and a nice painting too. I like it a lot.

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  2. I prefer the first story!!! This sounds sort of like our old West pony express mail delivery!

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  3. I probably would have run into the house, as well!

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  4. You have a very interesting blog. I love the postcards! Congratulations.
    Best regards from Barcelona.

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  5. I wanted to honour you for the quality (and quantity)comments you leave on my blog and those of others.
    I'm unable to post the url into this box, but if you visit my site and scroll down to the Happy 101 post you can pick up your blog award.
    Have a nice day!
    Evelyn in Montreal

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  6. It's a nice picture. Sadly though, the Pheasant shut down a few months back

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Welcome to my postcard collection! I love hearing what you think of the cards - but spam WILL be deleted.

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