Stanley Paine (British, B. 1934) "Exeter Mail Coach" Signed lower left. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting is the original painting which was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Great Britain 16p Exeter Mail Coach stamp issued July 31, 1984.

On the night of October 20, 1816, the Exeter Mail Coach, which normally ran from Exeter to London, had left its stop at Sailsbury and was proceeding across Salisbury Field. Suddenly the horses began to get nervous and fidgety. Peering into the darkness, the coachmen and passengers saw the mysterious figure of an animal following the team. Not too concerned, they simply assumed it was a large calf and continued on their way. The animals stayed with them. As the Coach pulled into the Pheasant Inn -- also known as the Winterslow Hut -- the creature lunged out of the night, leaping ferociously at the offside leader of the team. The attacker was a hungry lioness which had escaped from a traveling menagerie staying overnight at the inn. The guard and coachment tried to deal with the situation which had taken them by surprise. But, as the guard raised his blunderbuss to shoot the lioness, a voice cried out in the darkness -- it was the owner of the show. He pointed his pistol at the guard's head promsing to shoot if the beast was killed. Astonished passengers ran for the inn, bolting the door behind them. Adding to the madness, a large dog seized the lioness, starting a terrible fight betwen them. Eventually the lioness took refuge behind some stones nearby and her owner and trainer were able to rescue her. The horse recovered and soon was delivering the mail again. But the dramatic incident has often been recounted in the years since it occurred.

Image Size: 6 x 7 in.
Overall Size: 10.75 x 12 in.
Unframed.
(B08873)

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