, Collecting Seal it with a

Press, 2 June 1981, Page 16

, Collecting Seal it with a

I have never been quite certain whether the word seal referred to the impression left on. wax or embossed directly, into the paper or to the object which made it. Recent experiences — the sight of two beautiful, handwritten old deeds on parchment complete with red wax seals arid the loan of a - number of albums containing hundreds of seals on paper, prompted some research into the subject. So I now know the answer. The seal, strictly speaking, is the irhpression left and the

object itself is the matrix. I have also learnt the word for such study: It is Sillograpliy, described in the dictionary I consulted as “The study ; of seals — helpful in historical studies because the seal 6 attached provides proof of authenticity.” , Seals have been around as long as civilised man, There , are extant examples of both matrix and seals from the civilisations of Egypt, Babylonia and Assyria, and'they 1 have been in continuous use i in China throughout its long history. '

Most of us are familiar with the use of seals on documents, but it is interesting to note that in Egypt and Babylonia they were also impressed on the clay used to seal wine jars. Designs for this type of seal were incised on cylinders and rolled over . sheets of clay to provide many seals very quickly. Individual seals at that time were inscribed on the well known scarab — a bet-tie-shaped matrix. The Greeks engraved stones or pebbles which became known as gems, often worn on rings, .predecessors 'of the modern signet ring. The Romans required a • seal on very legal documents. This practice has continued with variations until modern times, seals still being required on certain documents under English law, the design or signature usually being incised on stone, bone, ivory, or soft metal. In mediaeval'times it was discovered that the lasting quality of an impression in wax is doubtful in warm climates. From this emerged

a new development — a seal in metal suspended from the document concerned- by a cord. This provided opportunity for an additional design on the back of the seal and the' counter seal evolved. By the eleventh:, century these metal seals were in universal use and in the highest circles were often of •silver or gold. .. People in the Victorian, era; loved reviving earlier Jeus-, toms. The seal was no exception. .. . Still ■ in common use for royal, state or legal documents, seal and wax now 1 became a necessity for the ordinary household, and with their usual ingenuity the Victorians invented new variations. By this time the seal was used more for sealing an envelope or folded paper to ensure privacy than for signature. In the Whitcombe and

Tombs shop in CanterburyMuseum there are, in addition to a collection of seals and sticks of wax, packets of wafers — slim circles of waxed paper for fastening an envelope and paper .‘seals’ bearing the name Susan. From this era. too, come the wonderful albums filled with hundreds of pieces of paper bearing impressions of crests, coats of arms, and other more individual designs lent to me by - Norman Oberg, of Smith's bookshop. The ' collecting of such items was so popular towards the end of the. 19th century that special albums, collector's pieces in themselves now. were published to contain them.

The beautifully coloured impressions are mounted on specially designed pages. Many are coats of arms or crests of famous families, cities, regiments or universities, but the most interesting

are those specially designed for or by the owner. Often they are humorous, and indicate a play on the initials or name of the person concerned.

I can certainly recommend study or collecting in this field. It is quite absorbing as I have found to my cost during the last few days. The practice of embossing a seal directly on to document, letter paper or enn velope is still followed today by governments, local bodies; universities. businesses, schools and of course Royalty and other people in high places. . It is quite possible to acquire an interesting collection.without recourse to the past at all, but I,am sure no collector could resist an attempt to find some really old examples and' also a matrix; or two.: ' |

The jade seal from China is sought by collectors of seals or jade. .>.

Often a simple stick of jade squared. at the end to provide space for the signa-i ture, it may have passed through many hands. At. each' change of ownership the;signature would be ground,:off| in preparation for the mark, of the new owner. I

Such processing gradually! reduced the stone. . Short seals are therefore in demand, as this indicates! great age.

A grander version of the jade seal is a thick, oblong block of jade surmounted by a handle in the form of ant animal. These, too, have usually been subjected to muchi smoothing off due to changes of ownership through the centuries. |