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Prince Albert collected photographs of places significant to him

Nature Studies

In 1853, Prince Albert and Queen Victoria became patrons of the Photographic Society, and it was through this network of photographers that they made many important purchases in the early 1850s. This included a set of 43 photographs of animals at London Zoo by photographer Don Juan, Comte de Montizón. This set included photographs of Obaysch (c. 1848-78), London Zoo’s first hippopotamus, which arrived on 25 May 1850. Prince Albert compiled two volumes of nature studies titled ‘Stags’, which contained photographs and drawings relating to deer stalking, a pastime of his while staying at Balmoral. 

 

Dr Ernst Becker (1826-88)

Stags; Volume 1

Dr Ernst Becker (1826-88)

Stags; Volume 2

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Polar Bear, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Polar Bear, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Sea Eagle, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

White Tailed Sea Eagle, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

A Harpy Eagle, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Giraffe (Nubian or Kordofan), London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Obaysch, the Hippopotamus, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Obaysch, the Hippopotamus, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Obaysch, the Hippopotamus, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Obaysch, the Hippopotamus, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Indian Tigress, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Marabou stork, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Lion at London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Flamingo, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

European heron, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Seal, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Arabian camel, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Grizzled tree kangaroo, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Ostrich, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Pelican, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Pike, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Lynx, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Albino Indian gazelle, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Addax, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Eland, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Cheetah, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Lioness, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Eagles Aviary, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Arabian camel, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Crested pelican, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Tiger bittern, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Grey lag goose and pink footed or bean geese, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

White pelican, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Lammergeyer, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Bald eagles, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Bald eagles, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

White-tailed sea eagle, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Young sea eagle, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Hawk-eagle, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Sheep, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Black necked stork, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Giraffe, London Zoo

Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87)

Tiger, London Zoo