Russian Bale Seal, Baltic States, Flax, NP, 178-, Image by StuE, Found by Mick Scurrell.
Russian Bale seal found in the Mistley area.
Russian Flax quality control seal.
First side:-
First line - N.P. = unknown initials.*
Second line - (S?)312(K?) = initials and numerals indicating the content of the bales.
Third line - 178? = date of assessment.
Second side:-
First line- AO = initials for Inspection?
Second & Third line - (Ф?)ЕРН = (F?)YeRN
ЦОВЬ = TsOV name of quality control officer.
Fourth line - H231 = N231 = number of work station used by QA officer.
See Fig.4b and section 5.2.4.1, p.21, *Russian Cloth Seals in Britain: Trade, Textiles and Origins by John Sullivan.
Inscription deciphered and completed by Ged Dodd of The PeaceHavens Project, IDS 39 using his extensive database:-
AO = AO / ЧEPHЦOBЬ = CHERNTSOV / H231 // NP / ЯЗ12H / 1786
*AO = Акционерное Общество = Joint Stock Company.
