OLD HERALDIC SEALS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 13, 15 July 1936, Page 5

OLD HERALDIC SEALS

REVEALED IN OHIO

AMERICAN COLLECTION

A collection of wax seals portraying , in faithful detail the arf*of an English L! family of "heraldic designers, over a span of more than six centuries has come to light in Akron, says a writer in the "New York Times." The prrperty of Leo F. Herrington, the collection has been in the United States for sixty-five years, but not until re- _ cently has Mr. Herrington exhibited it, even to his close friends. The collection consists of about 600 wafers of red sealing wax upo which were impressed many years ago the crests of prominent noblemen, military heroes, and literary lights of Eng-; land and some from other countries Some of them date from the thirteenth century. Seated before his collection, a box filled to overflowing with the beauti-fully-executed cameo-like pieces. Mr Herrington explained how this assemblage of seals—said .to be duplicated nowhere except in the archives of the Keeper of the Seals in London —came into being. . . "The men of our family," he said, "have been engravers specialising in heraldry for many generations, the art descending from father'to son. As a matter of fact I am an engraver myself, though my principal work is not in heraldic symbols ■ . ' "When one of these English, gentlemen whose arms you see impressed in wax received a grant of. title or additional heraldic honour from his king he called upon the contemporary member of our family Exhibiting his grant, he furnished on request such additional information as would facilitate an accurate search of his lineage and heraldic rights. CUMULATIVE HONOURS. "Calling upon the Master of Heraldry at the Kensington Museum. m\ ancestor submitted this . information Subsequently, there was received fron that gentleman the official record set ting forth all heraldic orders, and hon • ours due the individual in .question It must be borne in mind that these are cumulative, an heir being entitled, to all those of his ancestors. "Thereupon—after' some labour in the family shop—an illuminated drawing or sketch was made, embodyin" and symbolising the heraldic record This was submitted to the Master of Heraldry for authentication and, if found accurate, was signed by him and filed as the. last arms of the family • -~;.' "The arms were then ready for engraving and general use In about two weeks a die was made of the drawing Some were engraved in steel and attached to desk stamps. Others were carved in precious stones and set in rings commonly known as: signet rings. All were intaglio and their impressions cameo, as you see in this collection. . "A test stamp would'then be made in melted wax. such as that used in sealing letters or other documents. These seals are the samples made and accumulated in that manner. They were brought to this country by my father. Incidentally. I have been unable to discover the composition of this wax. which is remarkably, durable and better able to withstand heat than any wax we have today." THE GREAT DUKE. One of the seals is that of the Duke of Wellington—an imposing crest of delicately fine engraving, - depicting two lions, rampant and supporting the family shield. Another is the seal of the Vane family, which figured in the early history of Massachusetts. It will be recalled that Sir Henry Vane, eld est son of the British Secretary of State, whose namesake he was. emigrated from England because of religious differences- He landed in Bos ton in 1635, was elected Governor of Massachusetts in 1636. and returned to England a year later. There he entered Parliament, later became .Treasurer of the Navy, and ultimately lost1 his head as the result of his opposi tion to Cromwell. • High officials" of ~th"e" "British" Navy are represented by three seals in the collection—those of. Admirals Polynoz Sir A. Cochrane, G.C.8.; and Sir Ross Donelly, K.1.8., the latter, bearing the date June, 1794. These, old sea dogs apparently were modest, for their seals are the smallest in the entire collection. The graphic , depiction of a hero's achievement, typical -of heraldry, is especially vivid in the seal of Zephani. a veteran of the Indian wars. It portrays a demi-man, representing Surajud Dowla Subah of Bengal in dress and turban of Oriental splendour. A MARTIAL SEAL. Who can doubt his military prowess and prestige when gazirig upon the seal of General Ferdinand Baron de Geramb, with ; its ■ drums and spears and armour in fearful array? A more peaceful seal is that of. Sam Rogers, English poet, born in 1763. Appropriately, it is wreathed with a laureate surrounding three gentle gazelles signifying grace and beauty. One of the most beautiful pieces in the collection, although it is riot associated with heraldry, is a seal signifying the "Ganymede" of Greek mythology as conceived by one of the early Herringtons. The legend of .that most beautiful of mortals has been exquisitely portrayed, although it takes the assistance of a magnifying glass to bring out all of the intricate detail. Many of the seals are unidentified, the records having been lost through the.centuries. Among these is an ancient Oriental seal bearing an inscription in some Eastern tongue. Whose it was and what its significance are uncertain, but there is no questioning its beauty. Mr. Herrington and some of his associates are trying to classify the entire collection, but they, are encountering many difficulties. For many of the crested gentry, despite their proud boast of nobility, left no en- | during mark in the records of mankind. By their seals alone are they remembered.