Today’s Taxidermy Experts
Simon Rumble
Today’s Taxidermy Experts
Simon Rumble
When we think about today’s taxidermy experts and especially those with expertise in bird taxidermy – few figures are as prominent as Simon Rumble, the driving force behind British Taxidermy the 15 year old Facebook group, now boasting more than 16,000 members and steadily growing. The group has become a vibrant hub for every corner of the taxidermy community interest field —sellers, dealers, and auctioneers; contemporary taxidermy makers; bird and mammal enthusiasts; and the wider world of curiosity collectors, gothic aesthetes, and lovers of the unusual.
A taxidermy Burrowing Owl
Photo credit: British Taxidermy Facebook Group
Bird Taxidermy
Simon’s first love is bird taxidermy, although his interest extends beyond this. He buys and sells modern and historic taxidermy, mostly birds, and prefers to work with specimens from the first half of the 20th century but also works in an ethical way with modern birds i.e. those that die in captivity or have been victims of accidents.
As one of today’s most prominent taxidermy experts, he offers advice to enthusiasts and collectors via his Facebook page and can usually be found in person at shows and fairs buying and selling taxidermy.
Photo credit: Simon Rumble
A lifelong passion for birds
Birds have always been Simon’s great passion. It began at the age of five with a well‑thumbed copy of The Observer’s Book of Birds—a copy he still owns today, complete with his name and age proudly scrawled inside. Wildlife isn’t just an interest for Simon; it’s woven into his DNA.
By age eleven he was already keeping British finches, budgies, and a variety of foreign species. His teenage years saw him showing Gloucester Canaries, earning accolades at numerous events.
Flying Birds of Prey
And while most boys his age were still deciding what they wanted to be when they grew up, fifteen‑year‑old Simon was already flying kestrels. Before long he’d added barn owls, little owls, and even eagles to his repertoire—an early life chapter that wouldn’t look out of place in a modern remake of the 1969 coming-of-age drama film, Kes, directed by Ken Loach and based on a book by Barry Hines.
An advertising poster for the 1969 film drama “Kes” directed by Ken Loach
Becoming a Taxidermy Expert
Of course, adolescence eventually arrived with its usual distractions, and the living, feathered kind of birds had to share his attention with the other “birds” teenage boys tend to notice. With less time for live animals, Simon turned instead to taxidermy birds—still able to admire them, study them, and surround himself with them, but without the daily demands of care.
His very first pay packet was spent on taxidermy, and by eighteen he had already begun the lifelong rhythm of buying and selling. He jokes that the costs of the competing interests of nightclubs and the “other British birds” of his youth sometimes made it a challenge to fund his growing collection.
The true turning point came at twenty‑two, when he stumbled across an antique cabinet. He didn’t know it at the time, but that cabinet was his doorway into the world of Victorian taxidermy—a world he would go on to explore, study, and champion for decades.
A taxidermy Snowy Owl
Victorian Taxidermy Birds
Left to Right:
Case by Hutchings of Aberystwyth.
Two Buff Canaries
A typical Victorian case
A Victorian Kingfisher
All identified, collected and refurbished and sold by Simon.
Simon’s knowledge of Victorian Taxidermy is extensive. He buys and sells, and refurbishes old cases. He has a keen eye for the styles and best work of the leading Victorian taxidermy makers and often gives free advice to collectors looking to validate or learn more about their finds.
Like many of the 19th century taxidermists and naturalists – the ancestors who came before him – Simon enjoys expeditions and field trips and recently travelled for a bird watching trip in Gibraltar with his taxidermy-collecting friend and wildlife enthusiast, Sam Coleman.
These photographs of some of the birds they observed during their trip are nothing less than majestic.
All photos copyright Sam Coleman and Simon Rumble
Wildlife seen in Gibraltar: An Audouin’s Gull
Wildlife seen in Gibraltar: A Greater Flamingo
Wildlife seen in Gibraltar: A Cattle Egret
Wildlife seen in Gibraltar: A Griffon Vulture
Wildlife seen in Gibraltar: A Peregrine Falcon
GET EXPERT ADVICE ON TAXIDERMY
For advice on taxidermy contact one of today’s taxidermy experts, Simon Rumble
Simon is a bird enthusiast and bird taxidermy expert and his knowledge of birds is formidable. He can identify most species immediately, drawing on years of devouring bird books and absorbing every detail. Alongside a full‑time job, he still finds time to support the taxidermy and natural history community through his Facebook group where he welcomes questions, helps with species identification, and shares insights freely. His understanding of both historic and modern taxidermists—their styles, techniques, and quirks—is extensive, and he offers impartial guidance to anyone seeking clarity or verification. His close relationships with leading British auctioneers further reinforces his standing as a trusted expert.
Simon’s passion is lifelong and unwavering. His next ambition is to retire, launch a dedicated website for sales and advice, continue buying and selling taxidermy, and keep expanding his knowledge of the field he loves.
If you’re looking for advice from one of today’s best taxidermy experts, wanting to buy or sell, or if you simply want to learn more, your first stop should be Simon Rumble
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