Provenance

According to the North Corridor Inventory of Windsor Castle this talwar 'was undoubtedly one of Tippoo Sultan's [Tipu Sultan of Mysore] favourite blades, the marks on both sides say the favourite blade of Tippoo Sultan. There is a small stamp over the handle, Victory to [illegible], Lion of God, which with his initials shows that it belonged to his Father, Hyder Ali Khan. The gold writing on the back is merely a prayer to Othman[?] & Ali, proving that it belonged to a Sourni[?], of which sect of Mussulmans Hyder and Tippoo were devoted followers.'