H H Maharana Fateh Singh of Udaipur or Mewar, a cabinet card

The 5¾ x 3¾ ins cabinet card by Moreschi & Graeffe, Bombay shows Fateh Singh full length seated in a silvered chair holding a sword of tulwar style. It is slightly damaged at the extreme top right corner and there are a few other marks including an ink stain to the verso but it is in reasonable condition for its age. The ruler of the senior Rajput state was born in 1849 becoming Maharana in 1884 and ruling until 1930. This portrait is not one of thise usually encountered and probably dates from around the time of his accession or even a little earlier. The photographer is rather obscure, not listed in Thomas History of Photography India 1840-1940. dec26/2