Russian Bale Seal, Baltic States, Flax, NP, 1813, Image & Found by Rob.
Found in North Yorkshire, 23 x 18 x almost 4mm, 10.56g.
This is a Russian flax bale quality control seal.
First side:-
First line - N P
Second line - IIIБ12Н = initials and numerals indicating the content of the bales.
Third line - (1813?) = date of assessment.
Second side:-
First line- (mostly missing)ЛД = LD = initials for Flax Inspection.
Second & Third line - В.BО / [Л]КОВЬ = V.VO / [L]KOV' = name of quality control officer, probably V. Volkov known from two seals from the 1820's *.
Fourth line - H78 = N78 = number of work station used by QA officer.
See Fig.4b and section 5.2.5.6, p.22, *Russian Cloth Seals in Britain: Trade, Textiles and Origins by John Sullivan.
Inscription deciphered and completed by Ged Dodd of The PeaceHavens Project, IDS 62 using his extensive database:-
NP / IMБ12H / 1813 // ЛД = LD / B.BOЛKOBЬ = V.VOLKOV / H78
