Russian Bale Seal, Archangel, Image by StuE, Found by Dave Haffenden.
Found in Colchester Area.
Probably a Russian bale seal from Archangel, see Russian Cloth Seals in Britain: Trade, Textiles and Origins by John Sullivan, 2012.
"Early Archangel seals - Fourteen Archangel seals in Fife Council Museums (East) collection dating from the early 1830s differ in their configuration from those described above (CUPMS: 1999.52.13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 23; 1999.53.11; 1999.54.30, 31, 57; 1999.55.5; 1999.56.1; 1999.58.1), of which eight are clearly dated between 1832 and 1838. Dates on the other seals are illegible.
Typically, the first line on the obverse of these seals has the initials A.П. (A. P = Archangel Port). Nine of the seals have the same abbreviation of the rank of Quality Control Officer desiatsko which follows on the second line. One seal has desiatskoi, one desiats and a third desiask. Three are illegible. The seals are also unusual in providing the bracker’s initials rather than his full name.
The seals show greater variety in the way they present information on their reverse sides. They all indicate the contents of the bale to which they were attached, followed by its quality, the initials of the producer and the date. On six seals showing MП (MP) as the initials of the producer the initials are spanned by the date, for example, CUPMS: 1999.52.18 has 18MП38 (18MP38, i.e. MP 1838). On seal CUPMS: 1999.56.1, the date spans the initials which are K [Д] (K [D]). On two seals the initials of the producer are not spanned by the date, but by the quality indicators. The digits precede the initials B Д (V D) and A P (A R) and the abbreviation of the word ruka (as r or ru) (= quality) follows them: CUPMS: 1999.52.13 (2 BД р) (2VD r, i.e. VD 2nd quality) and CUPMS: 1999.52.15 (2 AP py) (2 AR ru, i.e. AR 2nd quality). A feature of early Archangel seals is also this use of pyka (ruka = hand, sort) to indicate quality. Only one early seal in the Fife (East) collection has c for copт (s (i.e. sort)), CUPMS: 1999.52.17, which becomes characteristic of all later seals from Archangel. KPOHЪ - high-quality flax: crown."
From - 'Lead Seals of Russian Origin in Fife' – John Sullivan, p.211, Tayside & Fife Archaeological Journal, Volume Six 2000.
From Ged Dodd,"Obverse:- (APX. БP) / ДECЯT / МИХА:СВЕЩНИКОВ, Bracked in Archangel by Inspector MIKHA:SVESHCHNIKOV
Reverse:- APX. БP / KУДeЛЬH / 2-COPmЪ / B.ЛED /1842, Bracked in Archangel as 2nd SORT KUDEL'N (the coarse broken part of flax after the Heckling and Scutching process.) in 184(2 'ish). The Grower/Owner/Agent initials are B.ЛED (V.LED) a curious combination of Cyrilic and Cursive letters. See ref IDS 1160 on The PeaceHavens Project - Seal Numbers 1101 - 1200."
