Russian Bale Seal, Archangel, 1850, Image & Found by Graham Bould.
Found in Somerset.
An Archangel flax or hemp bale seal - 1850.
First side:-
First line - АPX:ПO(P) = ARkh:POR = Archangel Port
Second line - ДEC = DES = Desyatnik = rank of quality control officer
Third & Fourth line - ИВАН? // РОГОВА the Christian and surname of the quality control officer, Ivan Rogov.
Second Side:-
First line - A.Б = Archangel Bracking (grading)
Second line - КВОНЪ = KRON = High-quality flax;Crown = contents of the bale
Third line - 2 COPTЪ = 2 SORTB = 2nd Grade
Fourth line - Ф.P. = F.R. = initials of the owner or producer
Fifth line - 185(0) (possibly 1858) = year when grading took place.
See Fig.41, p.58, Russian Cloth Seals in Britain: Trade, Textiles and Origins by John Sullivan, 2012.
From Ged Dodd, "Obverse :- APX ПOP / ДEC / ИBAHЪ / POГOBЪ
Archangel Port inspector IVAN ROGOV
Reverse :- APX БP / КРОНЪ / 2.COPTЪ / Ф.P / 1850
Archangel Bracked (inspected) high quality Krown grade 2nd SORT Flax inspected in 1850 (possibly 1858)
The Grower/Owner/Agent initials are Ф.P (F.R). See IDS 119 on The PeaceHavens Project, Seal Numbers 101 - 200."
