Rare CDV Taxidermy Hero Dog Mastiff 1800s Photo Oddities Unusual Post Mortem For Sale

Rare original CDV of Barry, on display at the Natural History of Bern. CDV is 4" x 2.5" and in VG antique condition.

Barry der Menschenretter (1800--1814), also known as Barry, was a dog of a breed which was later called the St. Bernard that worked as a mountain rescue dog in Switzerland and Italy for the Great St Bernard Hospice. He predates the modern St. Bernard, and was lighter built than the modern breed. He has been described as the most famous St. Bernard, as he was credited with saving more than 40 lives during his lifetime, hence his byname Menschenretter meaning "people rescuer" in German. The legend surrounding him was that he was killed while attempting a rescue; however, this is untrue. Barry retired to Bern, Switzerland and after his death his body was passed into the care of the museum.