Begum Arrives at the London Zoo — The Graphic, 2 March 1872

This delightful and historically significant original wood engraving, drawn by Ernest Henri Griset and published on page 208 of The Graphic on 2 March 1872, captures one of the great animal arrival events of the Victorian era: the transfer of Begum, a Sumatran rhinoceros — the rarest and most ancient of the rhinoceros species, known as the “hairy rhinoceros” for its distinctive coat of reddish-brown hair — from her travelling den to her permanent cage at the London Zoological Gardens in Regent's Park.

The arrival of a Sumatran rhinoceros was a sensation. The species was extraordinarily rare in captivity, and Begum's journey from the forests of Southeast Asia to the heart of London had been followed with intense public interest. Griset's engraving captures the drama and comedy of the transfer with characteristic wit: the great animal, bewildered and formidable, being coaxed and manoeuvred by a team of keepers, while presiding over the scene with unmistakable authority is Abraham Dee Bartlett — the celebrated Superintendent of the London Zoo, recognisable in his distinctive top hat — whose decades of experience with exotic animals made him the indispensable master of ceremonies for every great arrival at the Gardens.

Ernest Henri Griset (1844–1907) was one of the most gifted and distinctive animal illustrators of the Victorian era. Born in France and trained in London, he was celebrated for his ability to combine precise anatomical observation with warmth, humour, and narrative energy — qualities that made his animal subjects feel alive on the page in a way that few of his contemporaries could match. This engraving is a fine example of his art at its most characteristic.

• Publication: The Graphic, London (page 208)
• Date: 2 March 1872
• Artist: Ernest Henri Griset (1844–1907)
• Subject: Transfer of Begum, a Sumatran rhinoceros, to her cage at the London Zoological Gardens; featuring Abraham Dee Bartlett, Superintendent of the Zoo
• Medium: Original wood engraving
• Size: Approximately 17 × 24 cm (7 × 9 inches)
• Scan: 350 dpi
• Condition: Original antique print — age-toning consistent with period. Any slight tears along the edges of the original print will be repaired using acid-free archival tape. No original prints will be sold where there is damage to the principal image area.

A charming and historically rich piece for collectors of natural history art, Victorian zoological history, London Zoo history, or Ernest Griset's work — and a distinctive, conversation-starting addition to any interior.