Russian Bale Seal, Archangel, 1873, Image by StuE, Found by Goretex.
Found in Northern England, 28 x 27mm, 19.7g.
An Archangel flax or hemp bale seal - 1873.
First side:-
First line - АРХ.П(ОР) Archangel Port
Second line - АЕСЯТH = DESYATN = Desyatnik = rank of quality control officer
Third & Fourth line - СЕРТЕИ? // СЕДЕЛЬН = SERTEI? SEDELN the Christian and surname of the quality control officer, Sergei Sedel'nikov is found on another seal from Archangel dated 1871 held at Fife Museum Service (EAST) Cupar Fife (CUPMS:1999.53.6)*.
Second Side:-
First line - missing but probably АРХАНГ.ПОР = ARkhANG:POR = Archangel Port
Second line - КPОНЪ = KRON = High-quality flax; Crown = contents of the bale
Third line - (2?) COPTЪ = 2 SORTB = 2nd Grade
Fourth line - Я.Н.В. = Ya.P.V. = initials of the owner or producer
Fifth line - 1873 = year when grading took place.
See Fig.51, p.59, Russian Cloth Seals in Britain: Trade, Textiles and Origins by John Sullivan, 2012.
From Ged Dodd, "Obverse :- APX.БP / ДЕСЯТH / СЕРГЕИ / СЕДЕЛЬНИКОВ
Archangel bracked by inspector SERGEI SEDEL'NIKOV
Reverse :- APX БP / КРОНЪ / 2.COPTЪ / ЯПВ / 1873
Archangel Bracked (inspected) as high quality Krown grade 2nd SORT Flax inspected in 1873
The Grower/Owner/Agent initials are ЯПВ (Ya.P.V) See IDS 1180 on The PeaceHavens Project
