German, Vilbel Salt Bag Seal

Vilbel Salt Bag Seal Image & Found by Folkert.
Found in Germany.

VIE / BEL circular border of ermine // Lion rampant against trunk? circular border of ermine

A lead seal which can be dated to the 1830s/ 1840s (Vilbel is a town north of Frankfurt)

From: agersoe (Wed 11 Oct 14:17:37 2006)
Most likely a salt bag seal.
From the town today called Bad Vilbel.

From: agersoe = GreatDane (Wed 11 Oct 14:22:11 2006)
The townname in this kind of frame is typical for the German salt bag seals, first half 19th century.

From: Folkert (Mon 2 Jul 13:07:20 2007) These seals are also called "Weitenauer Plomben (seals)", named after the manufacturer of the pliers for these sea.s. Seals of this type were also used by South German states (members of the Süddeutsche Zollverei) who wanted to regulate and control the customs of each member country.

From Paul Cannon, "For a group of other seals of the same general 'Weitenauer' type see Rübezahl. This site suggests that they were in use from about the time of the German Customs Union of 1834 and that they were used for general goods as well as for salt bags."

See also on this site, BRES LAU Seal Image and found by Ged.