French, Customs / Tax Seal, 243

Customs / Tax Seal, French, I, Image by StuE, Found by Swarfy.
Found in Essex.

Distinctive sunken middle and double tapered edge with crimping lines all round it. The number 243 is in the middle on one side and the stylised letter I is in the centre on the other with CONTRIBUTIONS around the inner raised edge; there is also a colon and possibly a D and other letters beside this - Possibly IND as this would be 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'
The style of the I (resembling a J) matches that seen on a letter envelope stamped Minister des Finances Administration des Contributions Indirectes dated 20/12/1834. Delcampe - Ministère des finances/administration des contributions indirectes/lettre pour le prefet d'Agen.

This series of small, indented seals all have a variant of of the IC monogram. Most have a number in the indent on the reverse and many have CONTRIBUTIONS with an undeciphered word after it curved around the edge. The CI ligature looks to be from an earlier time. Philippe Lanez confirms this change but has not yet discovered when or why it happened.

From Michel Royer, "For this type, I think we can date them from the 3rd republic period from 1870 to 1940".