LONDON: A remarkable sword believed to be part of Tipu Sultan's personal armory sold for £317,900 (Rs 3.4 crore) at Bonhams auction house on Tuesday. This steel tulwar, adorned with the Tiger of Mysore's hallmark decoration and featuring an Arabic letter inlaid in gold, has a direct lineage to the Battle of Seringapatam in 1799, where Tipu Sultan met his end.
The sword was awarded to Captain James Andrew Dick for his valor during the battle and remained in the Dick family until June 2024. Lt. Dick was part of the 75th Highland Regiment of Foot, likely among the first British forces to enter Seringapatam, and played a role in locating Tipu Sultan’s body after the battle.
In addition to the sword, a silver-hilt Seringapatam medal belonging to paymaster Peter Cherry sold for £23,040 (Rs 24 lakh). This medal depicts a British lion overcoming a tiger, symbolizing the British victory.
Moreover, a manuscript report dated April 6, 1800, detailing a secret alliance between Tipu Sultan and the nawabs of the Carnatic, was sold for £35,840 (Rs 38.6 lakh). This document sheds light on the correspondence discovered at Seringapatam, which played a pivotal role in British colonial negotiations.