Russian Bale Seal, Archangel, 1846

Russian Bale Seal, Archangel, 1846, Image by Bilox, Found by Muddy Mick.
From Wetherby / Knaresbough area.

An Archangel flax or hemp bale seal - 1846.

First side:-
First line - АPX:ПOP = ARkh:POR = Archangel Port
Second line - ДEC = DES = Desyatnik = rank of quality control officer
Third & Fourth line - gives the the Christian and surname of the quality control officer (not legible on this seal).

Second Side:-
First line - APX БРА(K) = ARkh BRA(K) = Archangel Bracking (grading)
Second line - ОТБОРНЪI(I) = SELECT = contents of the bale
Third line - 2 COPTЪ = 2 SORTB = 2nd Grade
Fourth line - MK = initials of the owner or producer
Fifth line - 1846 = year when grading took place.

See Fig.49, p.59, Russian Cloth Seals in Britain: Trade, Textiles and Origins by John Sullivan, 2012.

From Ged Dodd, "Obverse:- АРХ.ПОР / ДЕС / ИВАНЪ / ПОПОВ
Archangel Port Inspector IVAN POPOV
Reverse:- APX. БPA / ОТБОРНЫ / 2.COPTЪ / H.K 1845
Archangel Bracked (inspected) as OTBORNY .. selected flax of 2nd Grade supplied by Grower/Owner/Agent with initials H.K in 1845. See IDS 1169 on The PeaceHavens Project, Seal Numbers 1101 - 1200."