Russian Bale Seal, Baltic States, Hemp, SPB, 1798, Image & Found by Pete Brooks.
Found in ?, 23mm.
First side:-
First line:- SP(B) = St. Petersburg
Second line:- TH(P) = Probably Roman script, Indicates the quality and type of goods but uncertain what initials stood for.*
Third line 1798 = Date of grading
Second side:-
First line:- П(Д) = P(D) = Hemp Inspection (but could also stand for Port Inspection or Tow Inspection*)
Second & Third lines:- А:ВОЛ = A:VOL
КОВЬ = KOV' (initials & surname of Quality Control Officer = A: Volkov - six St Petersburg seals for Volkov from 1821 - 1843 are recorded by John Sullivan, some with different initials, three V's, one L and two blank.)*
Fourth line:- H174 = N 174 = the number of the post the QA Officer worked at.*
