Obaysch, the Hippopotamus, London Zoo

This salted paper print depicts Obaysch, the Hippopotamus, at London Zoo. A group of observers stand behind the bars of his cage. 

Obaysch was London Zoo's first hippopotamus. He arrived at London Zoo on 25 May 1850. He proved to be very popular and attracted up to 10,000 visitors to the Zoo every day, with visitor numbers doubling for the year 1850.

This is one work from a set of photographs depicting zoo animals acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The photographs were taken by Don Juan, Comte de Montizón (1822–87). Queen Victoria and Prince Albert first viewed his photographs of zoo animals at the 1854 Exhibition of the Photographic Society. The Queen recorded in her journal: 

A set of photos of the animals at the Zoological Gardens by Don Juan, 2nd son of Don Carlos, are almost the finest of all the specimens.

Queen Victoria's Journal, RA VIC/MAIN/QVJ (W) 3 January 1854 (Princess Beatrice's copies)