Number 7 of a set of 50 cigarette cards re-issued by Ogden's and Royal Mail. The series does not have a title but shows different people, equipment and events connected with the postal service up to the late 19th, or possibly early 20th, century.
This card is landscape in layout and shows a mail coach in traditional red livery with parcels on top and a man peering out the window. The coach is being drawn by four horses and the front grey horse is being attacked by a lioness. The lioness is going for his neck and there is some blood on the horse's upper front. 'OGDEN'S CIGARETTES' is printed in the top left corner. 'LIONESS ATTACKING THE EXETER MAIL' is printed in the bottom right corner. On the back of the card, at the top, is printed: 'SERIES OF 50 ROYAL MAIL'. At the bottom is printed 'ISSUED BY OGDEN'S BRANCH OF THE IMPERIAL TOBACCO CO. (OF GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND), LTD.'.
The back of the card shows which number in the series this card is: '7', and has information about 'Mail Coach Attacked by a Lioness' printed underneath. 'This startling event happened in October, 1816, to the Exeter up mail. As the coach neared the inn at The Hutt, seven miles from Salisbury, a ferocious animal sprang out of the darkness and commenced mauling the near leader. In the confusion which followed a large dog seized on what turned out to be a lioness escaped from a travelling menagerie. The lioness, leaving the horse, attacked the dog, and the keepers coming up were enabled to capture her. The horse survived.'.
Date: 1924-c.1935
Reference number: 2010-0469/07
