Gould, John (1804-1881).
The Mammals of Australia. London: Printed by Taylor and Francis..., published by the author, 1863.
Every since Joseph Banks saw his first kangaroo on Captain Cook’s first voyage, Australian mammals had proved fascinating to European naturalists, and nearly every narrative of a voyage to Australia has some images of wombats, platypuses, and echidnas. Often these illustrations were based on skins, and the results are less than convincing. Gould spent two years in Australia, from 1838 to 1840, and he made eight separate collecting trips through Van Diemen’s Land [Tasmania] and Australia. When he returned to England, he immediately set about producing a set of volumes on the Birds of Australia, and he did not get around to the mammals until 1845. His wife and chief illustrator, Elizabeth had died shortly after their return home, and the Mammals employed a new artist, H.C. Richter. The first part was issued in 1845, and the last not until 1863. But nearly every genus of Australian mammals was represented here.