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Lot 183

A group of seals belonging to the Babi Dynasty of Junagadh in Gujarat
India, 18th Century
(5)

23 April 2013, 10:30 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £275 inc. premium

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A group of seals belonging to the Babi Dynasty of Junagadh in Gujarat
India, 18th Century

comprising four of oval form, each engraved with three lines of inscription on a ground of floral and foliate motifs, the fifth of circular form engraved with four lines of inscription on a ground of floral motifs
the largest 6.2 cm. diam.(5)

Footnotes

1)Small oval seal

safdar khan babi fadawi padshah Muhammad shah ghazi sana 10 1140

'Safdar Khan Babi devotee of King Muhammad Shah the Conqueror, [regnal] year 10/AH 1140/AD 1738.'

Nawab Safdar Khan Bahadur [Khan Shri Muhammad Anwar Khan Jawan Mard Khan Babi], Faujdar of Radhanpur, 1729-1730, was appointed to a mansab of 500 zat and granted the title of Safdar Khan Bahadur, after the death of his father in 1729. He died at Ahmadabad, 8th September 1750.

2)Oval seal

Javanmard khan bahadur babi khaneh-zad-e padshah-ghazi muhammad shah bahadur ahad

'Jawan-mard Khan Bahadur Babi borne at the house of the Conqueror King Muhammad Shah Bahadur, [regnal year] 25/AH 1155/AD 1742.'

The seal of the same person as above, but under Muhammad Shah.

3)Oval seal

Javanmard khan bahadur babi khaneh-zad-e padshah-ghazi ahmad shah bahadur ahad

'Jawan-mard Khan Bahadur borne at the house of the Conqueror King Ahmad Shah Bahadur, [regnal year] 1/AH 1161/AD 1748.'

See no. 1 above. The fact that his title is not included may be because he was given the title under previous emperor.

4) Oval seal

Javanmard khan bahadur babi khaneh-zad-e padshah 'alam gir ghazi

'Jawan-mard Khan Bahadur Babi borne at the house of the King 'Alam-gir the Conqueror [regnal year] one, 1167 (1754)'

Tis likely refers to the son of the bearer of the above seal who served under 'Alamgir II (r. 1167-73AH/1754-9AD).

5)Round seal

sar-amad-e rajhay-e hendustan raj rajindra shri maharaja dhiraj sawai madhu singh ibn maharaja dhiraj sawai jai singh 1173

'Master of the rajas of India, Raj Rajindra Shri Maharaja Dhiraj Sawai Madho Singh, son of Maharaja Dhiraj Sawai Jai Singh, 1173AH (1759-60AD)'

Maharaja shri Madho Singh of Jaipur reigned between 1751-68.

The Babi family of Junagadh were once powerful Imperial officials in Gujarat who wrested control over several tracts of land during the decay of the Mughal empire. The family reigned there uneventfully for two hundred years.

Additional information