E.F. Spicer of Birmingham
E.F. Spicer Taxidermist of Birmingham
Above – a postcard image of the E.F. Spicer taxidermy shop at 58 Suffolk Street (on the corner with Navigation Street – which no longer exists), Birmingham, date around 1900.
I note that this postcard image is also contained in the book by Christopher Frost “A History of British Taxidermy” printed in 1987. This postcard was offered to Christopher Frost after he wrote to all the main postcard dealers in the UK asking for postcards of taxidermist shops. Imagine getting that lot in every time it rained!!
In addition there’s another photo of this same postcard in Old Birmingham Shops, by Eric Armstrong, and it says the card was franked in January 1906
Right – a black and white image of the interior of E.F. Spicer Taxidermy shop which was sold at Tennants
Taxidermist, Naturalist & Entomologist
Fellow of the Zoological Society
Edward Francis Spicer of Birmingham (1852 - 1927)
E.F. Spicer Taxidermist of Birmingham
Edward Francis Spicer was a cousin of the famous Peter Spicer, celebrated Taxidermist, Artist and Naturalist.
In 1871 when Edward was 19yrs old he was working and living with the now-famous Peter Spicer at Victoria Terrace, Leamington Spa. Edward’s father was Thomas Spicer, the brother of Peter’s father. Edward was about 13 years younger than Peter.
With the training he received from his cousin, Peter, and with the reputation of the Spicer family, Edward Francis Spicer became a highly regarded taxidermist and naturalist in his own right, whose reputation was admired.
In about 1872, age 20, he left the safety of his cousin Peter Spicer’s business in Leamington Spa and moved about 30 miles away to form his own taxidermy firm initially located at 229, Great Colmore Street, Birmingham. He would later go on to establish his business in Suffolk Street.
At the age of 21, in 1873, Edward Spicer married Catherine Ward in Aston, Warwickshire and they would go on to have no less than 13 children between the years of 1874 – 1897 which included 3 sons – Edward Montague, Albert Victor and Harry Ward. Poor baby Harry died aged 1 yr.
1884 – 1887
There were a couple of interesting newspaper articles that I found in which Edward F Spicer appeared to have debt judgements against him – one in 1884 and a similar one in 1887 – both for the sum of more than £10 (and possibly it’s the same lingering debt), but after 1887 I don’t find any other references to this debt or sum but in today’s money it’s worth about £1,000.
Interestingly, one of his apprentices Arthur J. Harris (who had joined him in 1872 upon opening his business in Birmingham), went on to open his own successful business in the mid to late 1880’s, at Baker Street, Enfield. (see blog post)
Perhaps, with the problem of the firm’s debts in the mid 1880’s and the birth of more children, including his sons Edward and Albert, Edward Spicer could no longer afford to pay Mr Harris, and so this may have been the catalyst for Harris’ decision to set up on his own – we will never know.
It is said that one of the sons of James Hutchings of Aberystwyth had been apprenticed under E.F. Spicer in about 1889.
Examples of cases by E.F. Spicer
1886-1887
Birmingham exhibition of Manufacturers and Natural History
E.F. Spicer Taxidermist of Birmingham
E.F. Spicer attended the Birmingham exhibition of Manufacturers and Natural History which took place from August to October 1886.
He was stated in a review of the exhibition as having “brought the art of a taxidermist to perfection” after showing animals and birds there.
He also attended the Royal Yorkshire Jubilee Exhibition in May 1887 and had a large stall in Court 2.
About The Curator
Dorne Lovegrove is a curator, researcher, and digital publisher specialising in the heritage of Victorian taxidermy.
Her work sits at the intersection of natural history, Victorian culture, and the richly textured interiors of the 19th century.
Through narrative scholarship, Dorne brings forgotten and unknown stories to light and invites readers into a world where history, artistry, and quiet drama converge.
