A GEORGE III INFANTRY OFFICER'S 1796 PATTERN SWORD AND SCABBARDEARLY 19TH CENTURYWith 32½in (82cm) steel blade, brass guard and foliate pommel, with leather scabbard inscribed 'Tatham to his Majesty'Provenance:Possibly gifted by George Prince of Wales, later George IV, to John Hely-Hutchinson, 2nd Earl of Donoughmore Catalogue Note:The inscription on the leather scabbard 'Tatham to his Majesty' refers to Henry Tatham, Sword Cutler and Belt Maker to the King, established at no. 37 Charing Cross near the Admiralty in the late 18th/early 19th centuries. Although the bill for the sword offered here cannot be identified, on the 17 July 1799, George, Prince of Wales (later George IV, 1762-1830), was invoiced for 'A Spanish Sword', 'An Old English Sword', 'A silver gilt Dress Sword from the late King of France's Cabinet' together with 'A very old German Rifle' and 'A very elegant silver mounted gun'; the total amounting to £72 17s 6d (GEO/MAIN/29091-29091a). The Prince evidently did not settle his account on time for the receipt of payment from Tatham was not issued until 25 April 1801 (ibid.). Although only five bills from Tatham are extant in the Royal Archives, they show that he was supplying swords to the Prince of Wales/George IV, both antique and new, from 1799, and possibly earlier, to at least 1826.Given the close friendship that existed between the Prince of Wales/George IV and John Hely-Hutchinson, 2nd Earl of Donoughmore (1757-1832) - see lot 50 - it is possible that this sword was a personal gift from George to his trusted confidant Lord Hely-Hutchinson.