Starbucks Boston University mug: Discovery Series
The Boston University mug from Starbucks' Discovery Series sets the name in red over a dark green circle, with a terrier mascot, a trolley, a hockey player and a rowing crew. A mansion, a sailboat and a cheering banner fill the other sides.
- Series
- Discovery Series
- Place
- Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Type
- Mug
- Released
- Not confirmed
- Capacity
- 14 fl ozstandard mug size
- SKU
- Not confirmed
Sponsored links: we earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The litter of one that started the Boston Terrier
Around 1870, William O'Brien of Boston sold a dog he had brought over from England to another Bostonian, Robert C. Hooper [2]. People came to call it Hooper's Judge. According to the American Kennel Club, Judge was bred to a 20-pound white bitch called Gyp, and the mating produced only one puppy, a male named Eph [2]. Eph was later paired with a small golden-brindle bitch, and their offspring, among them a dog called Barnard's Tom, became the foundation of the modern Boston Terrier [2]. Other breeders bred to Tom and called the result the American Bull Terrier, though it looked nothing like a Bull Terrier [2]. The name changed again, to Boston Terrier, after the city where the dogs began. In 1893 the AKC registered its first one, and 75 were approved for the Stud Book [2]. Boston University made the breed its mascot on 15 November 1922 [3]. The terrier leaning in from the left of the mug (2) is that breed.
The mug does not label its drawings, so connecting this one to the story is our reading.
What's on the mug
- 1Lettering
BOSTON UNIVERSITY in red capitals over a dark green circle.
- 2Terrier mascot
A black-and-white terrier with a scowling face and a red collar leans out from the left. Boston University's mascot is Rhett the Boston Terrier and its colours are scarlet and white.[1]
- 3Trolley
A trolley with a pole on its roof crosses the top of the circle.
- 4Hockey player
A hockey player in a red jersey with BOSTON across the front skates across the right.
- 5Rowing crew
A racing shell with rowers in red runs along the bottom. The main campus sits along the Charles River.[1]
- 6Stone building
A stone building with tall pointed arches stands at the lower right behind red trees.
- 7Character on a bench Side view
A red-faced character in a BOSTON sweater leans against a red bench at the left.
- 8Mansion Side view
A grey-and-white mansion with towers and a red tree stands at the top centre.
- 9Sailboat Side view
A sailboat with BOSTON UNIVERSITY printed on its white sail floats below the mansion.
- 10Winding road and skyline Side view
A white winding ribbon curls through a skyline with a stadium and red autumn trees.
- 11STARBUCKS wordmark Back view
The vertical STARBUCKS wordmark sits beside the handle on this side.
- 12Cheering banner Back view
A banner reading BOSTON UNIVERSITY stands on a float-like base while people above it wave and cheer.
- 13Tall buildings Back view
Three tall grey-and-gold buildings stand below the banner.
- 14Grandstand Back view
A grandstand with a red-and-white striped roof stands at the right.
The three photos together cover the whole outside of the mug except the area right behind the handle.
Collector notes
- The inside of this mug is bright red, which matches the scarlet in the design.
- A photo of the back is the quickest check: it shows the STARBUCKS wordmark beside the handle and a BOSTON UNIVERSITY banner.
Before you buy
The inside of this mug is bright red, which matches the scarlet in the design. The three photos cover the whole outside except the area right behind the handle. The side with the vertical STARBUCKS wordmark beside the handle also carries a BOSTON UNIVERSITY banner, which makes it the quickest check.
