Russian Bale Seal, Baltic States, Flax, NP, 1809, Image & Found by Old Man.
Found within a 3 mile radius of Colyton in Devon, 22 x 18mm, 10.7g.
First side:-
First line - N.P.
Second line - ?K9? = initials and numerals indicating the content of the bales.
Third line - 1809 = date of assessment.
Second side:-
First line- ЛД = LD = initials for Flax Inspection.
Second & Third line - М.ЛЕВ = M.LEV
ШЕВЬ = SEV' = name of quality control officer (This quality control officers name is recorded in Sullivan's book as M. Levshev found on seals dated 1799 and 1803 with the same work station number.)
Fourth line - H37 = N37 = number of work station used by QA officer.
This is a Russian flax bale quality control seal.
See Fig.4b and section 5.2.5.6, p.22, *Russian Cloth Seals in Britain: Trade, Textiles and Origins by John Sullivan.
Inscription deciphered and completed by Ged Dodd of The PeaceHavens Project, IDS 60 using his extensive database:-
NP / БK9K / 1809 // ПД = PD / M.LEBШEBЬ = M.LEVSHEV / H 37
