
The Roman invaders found the native Britons possessed of a powerful race of dogs and it is from those that the old English Mastiff is decended. The Romans took many of these British Dogsback to take part in the sports in the amphitheatres. In later years King Henry II ordained that farmers should keep Mastiffs as watch dogs. the Mastiff is a large, massive, powerful, symmetrical dog - a combination of grandeur, good nature, courage and docility. Colour apricot or silver fawn and dark brindle.
Height at shoulder 30 ins.
Weight 150 lbs.
1929 DOGS HEADS - No 17 in a series of 50, issued by Players
![]() Mastiff - vintage picture 1931 |
Players used the same description or a slight variation, in these cards as well |
![]() Mastiffs - vintage picture 1925 |
The cards illustrated are all scans of the original vintage
cards ... they originally came in cigarette packets |

One of Britain's oldest native dogs. Skull square and very massive, wide between ears, flat on-top but slightly grooved up centre. Muzzle rather short and blunt with level mouth. Eyes of fair size and hazel-coloured, the darker the better. Ears small. Neck lengthy and powerful. Chest wide and deep. Body broad and well ribbed, with powerful quarters. Forelegs straight and well boned. Hind legs straight, very strong and well bent at hocks. Tail long and thick at root. Coat smooth, except on back and tail, where it is coarser. Colour: apricot or silver fawn, or dark fawn brindle. Muzzle, ears and nose should be black.
1937 DOGS - No 13 in a series of 50, issued by Wills
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