Yale Bulldog

The bulldog, known as Handsome Dan, is the mascot of Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut. This poster was created in 1909 by Abigail Kellogg Hazard. The poster compliments a sister image for Princeton University featuring the school's tiger mascot. The crest of the University appears in the corner of the artwork.

In the late 19th Century, the Ivy League Universities began to develop mascots to represent the school. Princeton adopted a real tiger cub as their mascot, while Harvard used the real life figure of John the Orange Man to represent their sports division. Yale followed suite with the adoption of a bulldog affectionately named "Handsome Dan".

In 1889, crew and football tackle, Andrew B. Graves purchased the English bulldog from a New Haven blacksmith. The dog became popular with students at sporting events and was led across the fields before the start of football games. The original Dan was renown for his lovable ugliness and unruly attitude, but also for his love of the students which he seemed to enjoy exclusively. He competed in competitions both in America and in England and won several ribbons as a fine example of his breed. After his death in 1898, his body was stuffed and displayed in the old Yale Gymnasium and is now on view in the Yale's Payne Whitney Gymnasium. Since his death the tradition of Handsome Dan has continued to the current bulldog, Handsome Dan XVII.

This is an Original Vintage Poster; it is not a reproduction. This poster printed on heavyweight paper and is in excellent condition.
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