The Birds of Great Britain,

%eadnotat; ]> John Gould Sketches of Birds1857-1863 Ewell Sale Stewart Library Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 2003 EAD tagging March 2003. ENG John Gould Sketches of Birds Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia March 2003Cataloging and digitizing made possible by The Getty Grant Program. Coll. 71A Gould, John, 1804-1881 John Gould sketches 1857-1863 9 sketches Ewell Sale Stewart Library, Academy of Natural Sciences

1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway Philadelphia, PA 19103-1101

English zoologist and first taxidermist of the Zoological Society of London, with headquarters at the British Museum, John Gould's chief interest proved to be in ornithology. Throughout his productive years, 1832-1881, he published 41 large folio volumes on birds containing nearly 4,000 hand colored plates. This collection consists of 9 pencil and watercolor sketches by Gould, 8 of which were used in the preparation of The Birds of Great Britain, and another drawn during Gould's visit to the Academy in 1857.

English zoologist and first taxidermist of the Zoological Society of London with headquarters at the British Museum, John Gould's chief interest proved to be in ornithology. Throughout his productive years, 1832-1881, he published 41 large folio volumes on birds containing nearly 4,000 hand colored plates. He spent two years in Australia, going there in 1838 with his wife, who was also his artist. Soon after this he was elected a corresponding member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, hence his later interest in this institution. Gould visited America in 1857, and while at the Academy made a a pencil sketch of the Yellow-Billed Cuckoo.

Series 1: This group of 8 sketches by John Gould are found in his notebook, which carries on the spine this title: Europe / Insessores / vol. 5 / Fringillidae / Pars. The notebook contains letters, sketches of birds, various notes from ornithologists, and newspaper clippings. Henry Sothern, Ltd., who offered it for sale ca. 1950, described the notebook as "evidently used in the preparation of The Birds of Great Britain," published 1862-1873.

The notebook was originally started by John Gould, each page being devoted to one species and including sketches and notes on synonyms, biography, and anatomical details. Six species of birds are pictured in this notebook, namely the Chafinch, Fringilla celebes, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Green finch, and Mealy Redpoll. A seventh species, a Bittern, was sketched by John Gatcombe at the request of Mr. Gould. The sketches are either loose or tipped into the appropriate pages of the book, and measure 12 x 14 cm. to 23 x 19 cm. Six sketches were drawn in pencil and watercolor, while 2 are drawn only in pencil. Some sketches include notes regarding color and anatomical details, which is noted in the inventory.

Series 4: A pencil sketch of the Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, made by Gould during his visit to the Academy, May 1857. Measures 20 x 33 cm.

Series 1: Arranged as items are found in pages of the notebook.

BirdsBirds--Great BritainSketches--19th century Watercolors--19th century Ornithological illustrations--19th century Gatcombe, John

Information on reproduction rights and services available in the library or on the web at http://www.ansp.org/library/reproductions.php

Cite as: Collection 71. John Gould Sketches of Birds. Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.

Gift of R.M. de Schauensee, 1952.

Finding aid created by Mary Hammer, 2003.

Series 1: Sketches from John Gould's Notebook 13aChafinch, n.d. 1 sketch : pencil ; 14 x 23 cm.

Includes notes regarding color and anatomical details.

Verso includes rough sketches of birds.

13b[Fringilla celebes], May 14, [18]58. 1 sketch : pencil and watercolor ; 18 x 17 cm.

Depicts 2 birds.

19[House sparrow], [18]58. 1 sketch : pencil and watercolor ; 13 x 17 cm.

Depicts the beak and claw only, and includes notes.

28Tree sparrow, Octo[ober 19]59. 1 sketch : pencil and watercolor ; 12 x 14 cm.

Includes notes regarding color and anatomical details.

40a[Green finch], n.d.1 sketch : pencil ; 23 x 19 cm.

Depicts 4 finches.

40bYoung green finch, June 29, [18]63.1 sketch : pencil and watercolor ; 20 x 15 cm.

Includes notes regarding color.

107Mealy redpoll, January 11, [18]56. 1 sketch : pencil and watercolor ; 23 x 15 cm.

Depicts beak and claw only, and includes notes regarding color and anatomical details.

166Gatcombe, John. [Bittern], n.d.1 sketch : pencil and watercolor ; 21 x 17 cm.

Depicts head and claw only, and includes notes regarding color.

Accompanied by a letter from John Gatcombe.

Series 4: Sketch 1[Yellow-Billed cuckoo] / sketched by Mr. John Gould of London at this Academy, May 1857. 1 sketch : pencil ; 20 x 33 cm.

This is the only sketch that can be attributed solely to Gould as none of his assistant illustrators were with him when he visited the Academy in 1857.