It is perhaps not generally known that the celebrated author of some of the finest and most valuable bird books in the world was better known in his younger days as one of the country's leading taxidermists. John Gould (1804-81) was born in Lyme Regis, Dorset. His family moved to Windsor in 1818 when his father was appointed a gardener in the Royal Gardens of Windsor Castle, then occupied by George III. Gould was himself apprenticed to the head gardener there at the age of 14. He practised taxidermy in his spare time, and earnt a little extra pocket money by selling his specimens to the boys at the nearby public school in Eton.
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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