BAHAWALPUR, Punjab. An unused gold embossed menu card. early 20th century

An unused menu card printed on off white card 7 x 4½ ins with the arms of Patiala embossed in gilt at the head. The card has rounded corners and the cad edges are gilded. Fine condition. A scarce ephemeral survival from the days of lavish princely hospitality. The use of English style armorials is something that the Princes began to adopt around the time of the great Imperial Assemblage at Delhi in 1877, although the heraldry system planned for the sub continent was never fully evolved. Bahwalpur was an important Muslim state whose ruling Nawab, of the renowned Abbasid family, had a 17 gun salute in 1900. The state is now a part of Pakistan.