APPARENTLY UNMARKED; PROBABLY GARRARD, LONDON, CIRCA 1875

From the 1870s until her death in 1901, Queen Victoria started sending members of the Royal Family on visits to different parts of the Empire to reinforce her position and motivate members of the British Foreign Service and foreign leaders. The grandest of these visits was without question that of the Prince of Wales (King Edward VII) to India in 1875-76. Although the Nizam did not come to meet the Prince of Wales either in Bombay or Poonah being young, of fragile health and fearing for his security, he was represented by his prime minister Sir Salar Jung I (1829-1883) who received in his name the Prince's presents which included this riding crop. In return he gifted many sumptuous items to the Prince of Wales including shields studded with rubies and emeralds, swords, carpets and walking sticks.
Born in 1866, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan was the 6th Nizam of the Deccan (1866-1911) succeeding his father Afzal ad-Dawlah (1827-1869) aged three. He was installed on the throne with two regents Mir Turab Ali Khan, Salar Jung I and Nawab Rasheeduddin Khanu until the latter died in December 1881 leaving Salar Jung I the sole regent. Captain John Clark was appointed to tutor the young Nizam who grew up to be a learned and respected leader believed to have mystic powers who could cure snake bites. Mahboob Ali Pasha also led a flamboyant lifestyle owning large quantities of clothes, footwear, walking-sticks, perfumes and jewellery owning the famous Jacob diamond.