Impressive Large Leaf From A Koran - Banda, before AH 1208/1790-1 AD, on paper (387 x 230 mm.). There are eleven lines of strong black natkh script within gold clouds, gold roundels between verses, illuminated marginal medallions, marking every tenth verse, red Persian interlinear translation, sura headings in red, margins with Tafsir written in black and red, final folio with commentary dated 1205. The verso eleven lines of strong black natkh script within gold clouds, gold roundels between verses, illuminated marginal medallions, marking every tenth verse, red Persian interlinear translation, sura headings in red, margins with Tafsir written in black and red. Size 9” × 14¾”. (This Koran, formally the property of the Bahadoor, Nawab of Banda was delivered after the great victory obtained over Rebels and Mutineers by Major General Whitlocks Troops on the 19th of April 1858 to the Reverend A Kinloch, the Chaplain of the Horse and present to him as a slight token of affectionate remembrance to the Reverend George Gleed the Vicar of Chalfont St. Peters, Bucks Branda Palace. April 29th 1858. A further note on the final flyleaf reads: This Copy of the Koran was taken from the apartments of Ali Bahadoor, Nawab of Banda after the occupation of his City and Palace by the Madras Column under Major General Whitlock. In 1858, Nawab Ali Bahadur II, a descendent of Shamser, received a rakhi from the astute Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi. He was thereby honor-bound to come to her rescue in her fight against the British. Eschewing his friendship with the British he fought alongside her. He sent 1000 trained soldiers and 300 gunners to the Rani and 1000 soldiers to Tatya Tope. This defiance of the British cost the Nawab and his descendants dearly. It ended their rule and their pension of four lakhs rupees. They were exiled for life. “Until independence, we would need the viceroy’s permission to travel out of Indore principality,” says Aziz Ali Bahadur his great grandson. The current line of descendants are from Nawab Saif Ali Bahadur, grandson of Ali Bahadur II and his 13 sons and seven daughters from three wives. He was the last recipient of the political pension awarded by the British to Ali Bahadur II when he was exiled to Indore after 1858