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THE FALL OF THE TIGER OF MYSORE: A RARE COMPLETE SUITE OF MONUMENTAL MEZZOTINTS DEPICTING THE DEFEAT OF TIPU SULTAN

a) The body of Tippoo Sultaun recognised by his family (Le Corps du Sultan Tippoo reconnu par sa Famille)

Lettered below image with title and description in English and French divided by remarque portrait oval of Marquis Wellesley supported by a cherub and liberty, dedication to the court of directors of... THE FALL OF THE TIGER OF MYSORE: A RARE COMPLETE SUITE OF MONUMENTAL MEZZOTINTS DEPICTING THE DEFEAT OF TIPU SULTAN

a) The body of Tippoo Sultaun recognised by his family (Le Corps du Sultan Tippoo reconnu par sa Famille)

Lettered below image with title and description in English and French divided by remarque portrait oval of Marquis Wellesley supported by a cherub and liberty, dedication to the court of directors of the United East India Company by L. N. & J. Schiavonetti, production detail: "Painted by R. K. Porter", "Engraved by L. Schiavonetti, R.A." and publication line: "London Published Octr. 15ht. 1801 by Messrs. Schiavonetti No. 12 Michaels Place, Brompton, and by Anthony. Cardon No31 Clipstone Street, Fitzroy Square."; Engraved by L.Schiavonetti,VA"; lower left: "The Body of Tippoo Sultaun recognised by his Family"; lower right: "Le Corps du Sultan Tippoo reconnu par sa Famille"

Inscribed in the title: "The Body of the Sultan was not found till late in the Evening, and then placed in the Court of the Palace by order of Major General Baird; the next day it was recognised by his family, whose grief on the occasion was extreme, his Death depriving them of the only dependence they had in their calamitous situation."

Two months after the British declared war, they had reached the capital of Seringapatam. On May 4, 1799, the British captured the fortifications in less than two hours. Following this, Tipu's family surrendered, and his remains were discovered shortly thereafter. The following day, Tipu's sons examined their father's remains and requested that he be interred that evening. In the print one can see the mourners in an eastern palace, surrounding the body of the Sultan laid in the centre, a temple in distance seen through the door on the right. Tipu Sultan, the implacable 'Tiger of Mysore' who had been a major challenge to British authority in India, was finally defeated and killed in the assault on Seringapatam on 4 May 1799. Tipu was laid to rest in a military-style funeral.

b) The Last Effort and Fall of Tippoo Sultan (Dernier Effort et Mort du Sultan Tippoo)

Lettered below the image with the title and a description in English and French, around arms with the motto 'Auspici Reg. et Senat Angliae', dedication from 'L.N. & J. Schiavonetti & A. Cardon.' to 'The Court of Directors of the United East India Company' and 'Painted by H. Singleton', 'Engraved by N. Schiavonetti' and publication line: "London Published by Aug' 15 1802 by Messrs. Schiavonetti No. 12 Michaels Place, Brompton, and by Anthony. Cardon No31 Clipstone Street, Fitzroy Square."; Engraved by N Schiavonetti"; lower left: "The Last Effort and Fall of Tippoo Sultan"; lower right: "Dernier Effort et Mort du Sultan Tippoo"

Inscribed in the title: "The wounded Sultaun retired under the gateway of the inner fort, his horse having sunk under him, his people raised him up and placed him on his palankeen from which, on the appearance of some European soldiers, he with difficulty removed himself, grasped his sword and nearly exhausted from loss of blood, wounded one of them above the knee who attempted to seize his sword belt, and who shot the Sultaun thru the head when he instantly expired."

Tipu Sultan, having retired severely wounded, with his men to the gateway of the inner fort, raising his sword with difficulty above his head to strike a soldier who reaches to grasp his belt, holding a bayonet in the other hand, while Captain Goodall of the 12th Regiment, on the right, orders a line of infantry to take aim and fire; with battle raging all around.

c) The surrender of two sons of Tippoo Sultan (La Reddition des Deux Fils du Sultan Tippoo)

Lettered below the image with the title and a description in English and French, within a decorative frame featuring military trophies and a dedication from 'Anthony Cardon' to 'The Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Directors of the Court of Directors of the East India Company'; inscribed 'Painted by H. Singleton', 'Engraved by A. Cardon'; and publication line: "London, Published March 1st 1802 by Anthony Cardon, No. 31, Clipstone Street, Fitzroy Square"; lower left: "The Surrender of the Sons of Tippoo Sultan"; lower right: "La Reddition des Deux Fils du Sultan Tippoo".

Inscribed in the title: “Major General Baird ordered the Sultan to appear and was informed he was not in the Palace but that his two sons would surrender themselves. Major Allen then went into the Palace and shortly returned with the two Princes who were received by the General with the greatest kindness and humanity”

d) The Assault and taking of Seringapatam (Assaut et Prise de Seringapatam)

Lettered below the image with the title and a detailed description in English and French, within a martial border of arms and flags, with a dedication from ‘Anthony Cardon’ to ‘The Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Directors of the Court of Directors of the East India Company’; inscribed ‘Painted by H. Singleton’, ‘Engraved by A. Cardon’; and publication line: “London, Published April 10th 1802 by Anthony Cardon, No. 31, Clipstone Street, Fitzroy Square”; lower left: “The Assault and Taking of Seringapatam”; lower right: “Assaut et Prise de Seringapatam”.

Inscribed in the title: "Major General Baird having divided his force into two divisions, one under the command of Colonel Sherbrooke and the other of Colonel Dunlop the troops ascended the breach under a heavy fire when the latter officer was severely wounded but though vigorously opposed both divisions were completely successful"

These prints are from a series of four plates of the siege and capture of Seringapatam, the battle that ended the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War. The culmination of the fourth and final Mysore War was Tipu's demise, which effectively facilitated the imposition of British dominion over the majority of India. This engraving, which was commissioned by the administrators of the East India Company, served as both a commemoration of the triumph and an assertion that the organisation had reclaimed authority over its profitable and exclusive trading operations in India. Governor General Richard Wellesley harboured a resolute intention to eradicate not only the French influence in India but also the Mysorean menace that imperilled British aspirations in the region permanently.

The prints in this lot belongs to the scarce large-format edition issued shortly after the events, not to be confused with the more commonly encountered smaller folio versions published in later decades. Examples in this original, monumental scale are exceedingly rare, with most surviving impressions now held in institutional collections such as the British Museum and the Royal Collection Trust. Printed at nearly 56 x 67 cm, this composition represents one of the largest and most theatrically staged propagandist engravings issued in the wake of Tipu Sultan’s defeat—far exceeding the dimensions of typical commemorative prints. Large-format mezzotints of this subject were produced in very limited numbers for public exhibition and elite collectors; their survival in complete or near-complete sets is uncommon. Unlike the smaller-format engravings that proliferated in popular print culture, this impression retains the grand visual scale and tonal richness originally intended for display in civic halls and military institutions.

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