Customs / Tax Seal, French, 50, Image by StuE Found by Colin Gilbert.
Found on the Essex, Suffolk border.
Small seal with deep circular indentation on both sides, one containing the stylised letters CI, the other the number 50
From a distinctive group of seals with various numbers on the reverse. Some have CONTRIBUTIONS around the inner raised edge and possibly IND - an abbreviation of Indirect to give 'Contributions Indirectes' - indirect taxes (French). "Taxes can be divided into direct taxes (taxes on income or property), and indirect taxes (taxes on alcohol and tobacco)." From 'France as a superpower 1700 - 1715'.
From Michel Royer, "For the seals of the „indirect contributions” with monogram C and I in cursive letters. We can date these seals from the 3rd Republic (probably from the end of the 19th century, possible the beginning of the 20th century). We find this monogram on the seals of the indirect contributions for "tobacco" and "sugar" and these seals are also dates from the 3rd republic (late 19th century)."
