Collection: John Gould

Shop rare books and prints by John Gould, not only one of the most distinguished ornithologists of the nineteenth century but also a brilliant artist and a highly skilled publisher.

Over a period of fifty years, John Gould dominated the field of ornithological discovery, and produced folio works of unrivalled beauty and scholarship. Gould conceived, researched (often by extensive travel in hazardous conditions) and wrote each work. For the lithographic plates, he composed the subjects, did rough drawings of great perception, and personally supervised the completion of the plate by his wife and other artists. Having brought the work into being, he subscribed, distributed, and sold the copies to the most discriminating audience of the day - from royalty to the leading natural history institutions and scholars in Great Britain, Europe, America, and Australia. All ornithologists are not artists. Many artists are not successful businessmen.

The accomplishments of John Gould (1804 to 1881) were truly monumental. No other ornithologist has ever exceeded (or will ever exceed) the number of Gould’s ornithological discoveries and the magnitude and splendour of his folio publications’ (Gordon Sauer, John Gould the bird man).

Embark on a journey of John Gould's ornithology—explore and acquire these works for your collection at Shapero Rare Books today.