Spratts Patent Seal, Image by StuE, Found by Colin Gilbert.
Found on the Essex - Suffolk boarder, 17mm.
Main feature is a plain cross or X at the centre of one side, around the perimeter 5 letters are visible - RA in one direction and SP in the other - between the two sets is an I or possibly the number 1. On the other side around the perimeter is the letter T and in the opposite direction the letters EN with a possible R before them.
From another similar seal:-
One side has a lop sided cross at its centre and curved around the edge SPRATTS PATENT. On the other side curved upwards across the middle is GRISSEL. [This seal does not have the curved GRISSEL marking and could be for another Spratts product or simply have the same marking on both sides as shown in PAS GLO-E760F3]
From Wikipedia:-
"Spratt's was the world's first manufacturer of dog biscuits. Its "Meat Fibrine Dog Cake" was the brainchild of American entrepreneur James Spratt who launched the biscuit in London circa 1860. The company began operations in the United States of America in the 1870s and, after Spratt's death in 1880, the company went public and became known as Spratt's Patent, Limited, and Spratt's Patent (America) Limited. Spratt's pioneered the concept of animal life stages with appropriate foods for each stage. The company successfully promoted their array of products for dogs and other domestic animals through the astute use of snob appeal. The company was the first to erect a billboard in London. In the 1950s, Spratt's was acquired by General Mills.
British operations.
James Spratt (?–1880) was an electrician and lightning rod salesman from Cincinnati, Ohio who became the first to manufacture dog biscuits and other products for canines on a worldwide scale circa 1860. The creation of Spratt's brainchild – the "Patented Meat Fibrine Dog Cake" – was inspired after his observation of street dogs devouring ship hardtack on the docks of Liverpool, England. His company was established in Holborn, London and his first dog cake, a concoction of blended wheat meals, vegetables, beetroot and meat, was prepared and baked on the premises of Walker, Harrison and Garthwaite, a firm which then claimed to have baked the first dog biscuit. Spratt was not only the first to manufacture pet foods but the first to farm out his production. His "Dog Cakes" were initially sold to English country gentlemen for their sporting dogs.
In conjunction with Spratt's operation, the first colored display billboard was erected on a retail store in London depicting a Native American buffalo hunt, the alleged meat source of Spratt's "Meat Fibrine". Spratt was always secretive about the meat source for his product, and, after selling the company, retained the contract for supplying the meat probably until his death in 1880. In 1885, Spratt's Patent, Limited, an English public company, was registered and continued the manufacture of dog food. Spratt's was one of the most heavily marketed brands in the early 20th century, with product recognition developed through logo display, lifestyle advertising, and support through devices such as cigarette cards.
The former factory is located in Poplar, east London and is a well-preserved site with about 100 live-work units called Limehouse Cut, after the canal running along the northern edge. Much of the original markings are visible on the buildings, with names painted on the DLR track-side walls, and on the small chimney visible from Morris Road."
