Russian Bale Seal, St Petersburg, 1768, Image by StuE, Found by John GM.
Found on the Thames foreshore, 26mm 17.7g.
First side:-
First line - SPB = St Petersburg
Second line - CTR = Roman script initials indicating the content of the bales
Third line - 1768 = date of assessment
Second side:-
First line- *УФ* = *UF* = unknown initials
Second line - ?Y???? = name of quality control officer
Third line - (H?) 21? = N 21? = number of work station
See section 5.2.3.1, Russian Seals, 1762-1769, *Russian Cloth Seals in Britain: Trade, Textiles and Origins by John Sullivan, {Type 3a-b, 1762-1769, St Petersburg}.
These seals are Russian flax or hemp bale quality control seals.
