Taxidermy: An Impressive Large Late Victorian Cased White Pelican & White Ibis, dated 1879, by James Gardner, 1844-1917, Bird & Animal Preserver, 52 High Holburn, W.C, and 29, late 426 Oxford Street, a high quality large adult full mount American White Pelican, stood upon painted groundwork beneath, a full mount White Ibis stood besides, both mounted amidst a natural setting of tall thick undergrowth and grasses, set against a graduated pale blue sky back drop, enclosed within a large typical period ebonised three-glass display case, 154cm by 35cm by 104cm, taxidermist's small full paper trade label to interior lower right, together with a large full paper trade label to the verso, bearing label to interior - Southern States of North America, American White Pelican, shot by T. Parkin, on February 4th, 1879, at the South-west Pass of the Trinity River, Galveston Bay, and a White Ibis, shot by the same person on January 26th, 1879, near Annuach, at the head of the Galveston Bay, Texas, U.S.A. The company of James Gardner was known as a purveyor of very high quality diorama cases and held Royal Warrants for Her Majesty Queen Victoria, The Royal Families of England & France and His Highness The Khedive of Egypt, thus establishing their name in the annals of taxidermy history. Ex-lot 214 Tennants Auction of the James Harrison Collection of Birds, May 2022.