From Paul Cannon, "I believe the reverse consists of a wreath with the rest of the circumference having the letters C.C.C.P. In the centre of which I am fairly sure I can see a hammer and sickle with rays emanating from the design. This would obviously date the seal to post 1922 and the formation of the USSR.
The following is a link to a vodka produced by the major distillery in Archangel which is still produced today. The link shows an old image of the distillery which was founded in 1899. It is said that, as well as vodka, it produced ‘wines, balms and tinctures in a wide range’. Архангельская водка "Северная Выдержка"
The Pre-Revolutionary state had for a long time been involved in alcohol production but in 1894 “the Russian state enacted a full monopoly on alcohol production, thus becoming the only official seller of alcohol. Conceived in and provisionally enacted in 1894, the state monopoly on all alcohol production took effect on all Russian territories in 1904. The sale of pure alcohol, wine and strong spirits became the sole domain of the government” [Yashkin, p9-10]*. The Archangel Distillery came into existence as a result of these changes. I believe the postcard in the above link can be translated as ‘Archangel State Wine Warehouse’.
The Soviet government also enacted a state monopoly on the sale of alcoholic beverages in August 1925. This was similar to the edict of 1894 [Yashkin, p16]*. Alcohol sold under the state monopoly would definitely have been marked in a special way to prove its source and authenticity. What better way than a stamped seal. Maybe other state distilleries can be identified from similar seals. Ged mentions a suspect date of 1899 on the seal. If it is there it may refer to the founding of the distillery, though I notice on the modern Archangel vodka bottles there is a date of 1898.
