Russian Bale Seal, Baltic States, Flax, NP, 1779, Image by StuE, Found by Dave Haffenden
Found in Colchester Area.
Russian Flax quality control seal.
First side:-
First line - N P = unknown initials.*
Second line - DH12 = initials and numerals indicating the content of the bales.
Third line - 177? = date of assessment.
Second side:-
First, Second & Third line - illegible.
Fourth line - (H?)24 = (N?)24 = 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.
From Ged Dodd, "Д? = D? / ВАВИЛОВЬ/ H24 /// NP / DH12K / 1779
Flax Inspector VAVILOV working out of 24 post in the port of St Petersburg, Kronstadt, Narva, Riga, Libau, Memel, Konigsberg, Pilau, Pernau, Revel or Tilsit ..in the year 1779 . . All NP seals before 1829 are flax seals and NP is a certification of the flax bracking (inspection) by the Russian Empire.). NP does not mean this seal was shipped from Narva Port (but it may have been) ..
The Grower/Owner/Agent initials are DH with 12 high quality Krown flax plants in the bale; See ref IDS1174 on The PeaceHavens Project, Seal Numbers 1101 - 1200."
