his improving and educational toy illustrates British military achievements from 1793-1815, including the Battle of Bunkers Hill, the Death of Abercrombie, the Battle of Waterloo and the 'Death of Tippoo Saib at Seringapatam 4th May 1799'. It was found among the nursery toys at Blair Castle in Perthshire.

Once again the market clamoured for images of Mysore, and authentic detail was sacrificed to dramatic impact and speed of production. In many of the cheapest prints, including The Stationers' Almanac of 1801, and the 'penny plain, tuppence coloured' prints of Laurie and Whittle or Basire, the utter lack of authenticity resulted in near-comical images. In one, Lord Mornington - with no mention of Baird or Harris! -is apparently leading the attack on a Chinese pagoda, which represents Seringapatam. In others, including prints of contemporary spectacles on stage, the Indian figures might have been taken from a pantomime of The Arabian Nights.

Slightly more sophisticated, but no less dramatic, are the versions which appear as Canon's Military Records, or in Regimental histories, and on this jigsaw puzzle. The Tipu story also found its way into the schoolroom, on sheets for writing exercices. These have a framed image top and bottom, joined, left and right, by two vertical bands of smaller images. An example in a Scottish private collection includes a cheerfully imaginary 'Storming of Seringapatam,' with the central space framed by thumbnail, hack prints of the British Commanders Stuart and Harris; the Discovery of Tipu's body; and the Surrender of his Sons; A Sepoy and an Indian Soldier; Tipu and his 'Sultana.' Amidst this stirring imagery, John Hatton inscribed and signed his writing exercice: 'Prescot School, June 12th 1801.'