Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An interesting K.C.I.E. group awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Sir A. C. Talbot, Resident in Kashmir, late Royal Artillery

The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, K.C.I.E., Knight Commander’s set of insignia, comprising neck badge, gold and enamels, and breast star, silver, gold and enamels, with full neck cravat in its R. & S. Garrard & Co. case of issue; Jubilee 1887, with clasp ‘1897’, silver; Order of the League of Mercy, silver-gilt and enamels; Lord Curzon’s Viceroy Presentation Medal, silver, 51mm, inscribed on the edge ‘Sir A. C. Talbot, Lady Curzon’s Prize for Photographs, Simla F.A. Exhibition 1899’; Colonial and Indian Exhibition, London 1886, bronze, 52mm; together with related group of three mounted miniatures including C.I.E. in gold with ‘India’ on petals, generally good very fine (8) £1500-2000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Richard Magor Collection of Medals Relating to India and Africa, and other Fine Awards.

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Adelbert Cecil Talbot was born on 3 June 1845, and educated at Eton. He joined the Royal Artillery as a Lieutenant in January 1867 and transferred to the Bengal Staff Corps in 1869, serving with the 4th Cavalry, Hyderabad Contingent. He served on special duty with the Afghan Commissioner during the Seistan arbitration in 1872-73, and was appointed Assistant Agent in Rajputana in the latter year. In the following year he was Attaché in the Foreign Department, and officiating Assistant Secretary to the Government of India, Legislation Department, 1875-76. He was appointed acting Assistant Resident and Assistant General Superintendent in the Thugi and Dacoiti Department, Hyderabad, in 1878, and also 1st Assistant Agent in Rajputana in February of the same year. Promoted to Captain in 1879, he was in the same year made a Fellow of Calcutta University. He was appointed successively as Political Agent to the Eastern Rajputana States, Bhartpur and Karauli, and in Bikanir. He officiated as Resident in Turkish Arabia in 1888-89, and in the Persian Gulf 1891. In August 1895 he went on special duty to England with Sardar Nasrulla Khan of Kabul, for which he was created a Knight Commander of the Indian Empire (C.I.E. 1885). Returning to India, Talbot was appointed Resident in Kashmir from June 1896 until he reverted to military duties in November 1900. Sir Adelbert Talbot died on 28 December 1920.