Russian Seal Cross Crosslet, *C.П.Б.T.OTП.TO, Image by StuE, Found by Dave Haffenden.
Found in the Colchester area.
Similar to other Russian seals of unknown use.
One side is blank, the other has a cross crosslet at its centre with four numerals evenly spaced around it - they make up 1873 but could be read in any sequence.
With the help of other seals the Cyrillic writting curved around the outer border reads:- *C.П.Б.T.OTП.TO or S.P.B.T.OTP.TO in the Latin alphabet.
From Paul Cannon, "Based on the other custom’s seal TA can probably be expanded to ‘ТАможня’ and TOB to ‘ТОВар’? Whilst I can’t yet find any of the more common British types (with a blank reverse) on Russian sites perhaps this indicates they were attached to exported goods? I wonder if OTP can be expanded to ‘ОТРасль’ with the meaning of ‘department/section/branch’. The full inscription might therefore be expanded to С.П.Б. ТАможня ОТРасль ТОВар ie ‘St Petersburg customs department goods’??"
From Ged Dodd, "The date is read by starting with the 1 which is followed by a 7 or 8 and working round in a clockwise fashion .. reading the numbers as upright when they face the centre of the seal ..
This seal is therefore 1873 .. cross . *C.П.Б.T.OT.TO
The seals have a symbol in the centre taking many different forms .. this one is an orthodox cross, others are crescents, flowers, shields etc.
Cyrillic initials of City Customs Department Goods surround the rim .. the initials vary .. and can be as in this seal .. starting at *
*C.П.Б.T.OT.TO or extended as *C.П.Б.TA.OTP.TOB
C.П.Б (St Petersburg)
TAMOЖHЯ (Customs)
OTPACЛЬ (Department)
TOBAP (Goods)
(Riga seals have *РИЖОИ.ТА.ОТ.ТО)
These seals do not specify what the goods are and they were for general use with all goods.
One Riga seal has *РИЖОИ.TA. ПЕН.TOB specifying hemp.
РИЖОИ (Riga), TAMOЖHЯ (Customs) ПЕНKA (Hemp) TOBAP (Goods)
see ref IDS 1193 on The PeaceHavens Project, Seal Numbers 1001 - 1100 and The PeaceHavens Project, Circular Dated Seals."
