John Hancock (1808-90) of Newcastle-upon-Tyne was generaly regarded in the mid-nineteenth century as the country's finest taxidermist. John Hancock left school after a fairly rudimentary education to join his eldest brother Thomas in the family business, but like his father before him, he did not enjoy it, and left after a short time to pursue his only real interest, natural history. He spent much of his early life in the worksops if Richard Wingate, a well-known Newcastle taxidermist. The John Hancock Museum was formally opened in August 1884 by the Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by their two sons, Prince Albert and Prince George. Much of his life's work still resides still in the Hancock Museum in Newcastle. Other cases by him are extremely rare as only a few reach the market.
We have bought major collections from museums and private collectors.
Offer your items here.
Taxidermy law can be complicated.
We make it our business to know the laws surrounding the trade, keeping up to date with changes in current legislation so you can buy in confidence.
The House of Taxidermy does not source modern taxidermy specimens that have been killed for the purpose of taxidermy. Our modern taxidermy is mainly roadkill and catkill as these are sadly the top two threats to British wildlife. We also get animals that have died of old age, largely from zoos and falconers.
Antique pieces for us are another matter. Although some of these old specimens were hunted, we see no harm in trading them today.
Destroying them will not bring the animal back.
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