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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 421

The exceptional gold Prince of Wales’ Visit to India Medal awarded to Maharaja Jam Shri Sir Vibhaji, Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, K.C.S.I.

Prince of Wales’ Visit to India 1875-76, gold (100g), by Phillips Brothers, London, 56mm x 83mm, the edge officially numbered ‘No. 10’, and additionally inscribed ‘H.H. Jam Shri Vibhajee Jam of Nawanagar’, good very fine and a true rarity of British India

Approximately 48 Medals struck in gold for distribution to the Indian Rajas by the Prince of Wales during his visit to India, Ceylon and Nepaul. Puddester 875.1.3.

In return for the award of this Medal, the Jam Sahib presented the Prince of Wales with a very fine shield fashioned from rhinoceros hide, with lacquer, gold, emeralds, rubies, diamonds, velvet, gold and silver thread and gold sequins, which now proudly resides in the Royal Collection (RCIN 11458 refers).

His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Jam Shri Sir Vibhaji Ranmalsinhji Jadeja, Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar was born at Jamnagar on 8 May 1827, fifth and eldest surviving son of H.H. Maharajadhiraj Jam Shri Ranmalsinhji Sataji Jadeja [Ranmalji Sahib], Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, by his second wife, H.H. Rani Shri Soniba Kunverba Sahiba. He succeeded on the death of his father in February 1852 and was granted a permanent salute of 11-guns in 1866.

Having met the Prince of Wales during the 1875-76 visit, Vibhaji attended the 1877 Durbar (Gold Medal) and was granted a personal salute of 15-guns and the personal title of Maharaja, together with his K.C.S.I. on 1 January 1877.

He had no less than twenty-two wives over the course of his life and following several poisoning attempts on his life, sought to adopt. As a result, Ranjitsinhji Jadeja (please see Lot 42 for his Gold British War Medal 1914-20), whose grandfather was a cousin, was sent off to be educated and made heir apparent to the throne in December 1878 after he decided to disinherit his son, Kalubha, on charges of misdemeanor.

This would be his only officially named Medal.

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Estimate
£8,000 to £12,000

Starting price
£7500