A stipple engraving showing Tipu Sultan's family grieving over his dead body. Tipu Sultan, the implacable 'Tiger of Mysore' who had been a major challenge to British authority in India, was defeated and killed in the assault on Seringapatam on 4 May 1799. The Prince of Wales was an avid collector of military prints as well as relics of Tipu Sultan, keeping eleven items from the Sultan's palace in the Armoury at Carlton House. Through Colnaghi he purchased this print as a pair with RCIN 750593.a on 29 September 1801, two weeks before they were officially published, and for the considerable sum of 7 guineas. A key accompanied this pair (RCIN 750593.b). The Prince subsequently bought the other two prints of the series (RCIN 750588 & 750589) on 15 August 1802, the date of publication given on the print 750589.