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Back to Visiting the Library John Gould gossip
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John Gould [1804-1881] was an English illustrator, taxidermist, ornithologist and publisher. He visited Australia between 1838-1840. Gould and his artist wife Elizabeth, described and illustrated many of the birds and mammals. His large format, magnificently illustrated, and hand coloured volumes are highly collectable and valuable. Gould's father was foreman-gardener at Windsor Castle and one of young John's earliest chores was to collect dandelions for Queen Caroline's dandelion tea. [Daily Mirror, 11/5/1954:21] On his trip to Australia he "fell in love with the love-birds, which he was to introduce to the western world as pets. It did not prevent him, however, from shooting them for the pot. He declared their flesh "deliciously delicate", and often wolfed a dozen at a sitting, spitting out the bones with deplorable courseness." [Daily Mirror, 11/5/1954:21] Gould has been described as having a heart of gold under a rough exterior. To some he was a generous man, but to others a penny pincher with an eye to the main chance. John Gould was a self-made man, and he left a legacy to natural history that has seldom been rivalled. Gould and his artists produced an amazing total of 2999 individual hand coloured lithographic illustrations. Gould sold his bird and mammal books to 12 Monarchs, 11 Royal Highnesses, 16 Dukes, 6 Marquises, 30 Earls, 5 Counts, 31 Honorables, 61 Baronets, one Bishop and 107 libraries, clubs and institutions.
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