FARIDKOT (Bikram Singh, 1842-1898, from 1874 Raja of)

Letter Signed 'Bickram Singh' to Colonel Sir Howard MELLISS (1847-1921, K.C.S.I., 1897), Inspector General of Imperial Service troops in India, at Simla, thanking him for his letter of the 22nd July, and saying he will be "glad to see the Officers concerned visiting Faridkot. Please advise them, to inform me at least 2 or 3 days before their arrival ... to enable me to arrange for conveyance and lodging &c. ... Your sincere friend", embossed coat-of-arms of 'Faridkot State', 1 side 8vo and conjugate blank, Faridkot, Punjab, 3rd August lightly creased and a little dusty along top edge, light remnant of old transparent tab at top of blank side 3

The royal family of the small state of Faridkot, now close to the Pakistan border, was fabulously wealthy from its real estate, which included a mansion and huge park in New Delhi. Besides introducing British-style courts and adopting British law, Bikram Singh commissioned an authoritative commentary on the Adi Granth, the Sikh Holy Book of over 6,000 hymns, built shrines and supported Sikh worship, including, for the Diamond Jubilee in 1897, bringing electricity to the Golden Temple at Amritsar.

Item Date:  1895

Stock No:  56377