Italian, Palermo, Sicilian Sumac, Francesco Basso Seal
FB Seal, Sicilian Sumac, Francesco Basso Seal, Image & Found by Lancastrian.
Found in Lancashire.
FB ligature with F retrograde, six pointed star above, inscription around - five pointed star EXTRA (downward curving) five pointed star VENTILATED (upward curving), rope border around // faint script across middle with inscription around - FRANCESCO BASSO (downward curving), PALERMO (upward curving)
The ligature must be the mark of Francesco Basso with a business based in Palermo, Sicily. What this business dealt in may well be revealed by the indecipherable letters at the centre of the seal. What ever it was the quality was obviously improved by being 'well ventilated'!
From a private communication with Paul Cannon, "I have checked Veitch's Sicilian sumac producers and amongst them is Francisco Basso & Co, Palermo. This firm features in Table II, sample nos. 126; 374; 407 & 414 on pp 12-13; 16-17 & 18-19. In the column headed 'statement on bags as to purity', three of the samples use the phrase 'extra ventilated' which matches the wording on the actual seals. There is therefore no doubt that the Basso seals also relate to the sumac trade. Fransesco is I believe the proper Italian version of the Christian name (as appears on the seals) rather than Francisco as recorded by Veitch.“Commercial Sicilian Sumac” by F P Veitch (1908)."