British soldiers sent back a host of treasures belonging to Tipu Sultan, including three hunting cheetahs, after the fall of Seringapatam in May 1799.The details of the spoils seized by the East India Company and sent back for King George III and other senior royals were listed in eight memoranda written by Captain Benjamin Sydenham, who was present during the Siege of Seringapatam and the death of Tipu Sultan.
He was appointed aide-de-camp to the Governor-General Marquis Wellesley after the siege and he produced these detailed memoranda about treasures from the palace that were sent back to London. The memoranda were auctioned in London on Tuesday afternoon by Sotheby’s for £15,000. They had been estimated to sell for £15,000-£20,000.
The papers had left the archive of the East India Company in 1814, and were then lost from view for nearly 200 years. The current consignor, who is of Indian heritage, discovered the papers about 20 years ago in a second-hand shop in England. “He immediately recognised the name of Tipu Sultan on the cover,” Sotheby’s said. The eight memoranda had been sent in duplicate with the details of the looted treasures and the three cheetahs.