By the mid 1800's John Gould (1804-1881) was recognized as the leading ornithologist in Great Britain.
His official career began in July 1827 when he was appointed, aged 23, as "Curator and Preserver" at the Zoological Society of London which had only recently been formed having held its first scientific meeting in April 1827.
In January 1829 Gould married Elizabeth Coxen who, through her talent as an artist, was instrumental in the future success of his business of publishing high quality folios of hand- coloured lithographic prints of birds.
In December 1833 Gould was appointed Superintendent of the Ornithological Department of the Zoological Society Museum, a position he was to hold for four years. The two papers referred to here, published in that same year of 1833, show that by that time he was well established as an ornithologist.
The RGSSA is fortunate to have these three original papers by John Gould published by the Zoological Society, London as they show Gould's ability as an ornithologist. The first of these, Description of a new species of the genus Eurylaimus, has a hand written inscription in pencil thought to be by John Gould himself.