Cloth Seal, Clothier's Seal, Exeter, F.A., Image & Found by Adriaan Wagemakers.
Found in the Netherlands, 21mm.
21 1/2 in remains of square border // F.A. in rope border
Thought to be an Exeter clothier's seal based on the distinctive square border around the number.
The initials may bring further possible connections in time.
From Mike Patrick, "Stanley D Chapman's book on 'The Devon Cloth Industry in the Eighteenth Century' - [Sun Fire Office Inventories] gives the following.
158/216059 - ALLEN, Francis, Sergemaker - 11 Jan 1765
Two dwellings under one roof and offices adjacent in Paris Street in tenure of himself and others, stone, brick, cob, timber and slated £150; Household goods and stock therein £50; House in Paris Street in tenure, stone, cob and thatched £80; Tenement behind in tenure, thatched, £20. [Total = £300]"
From Peter Maunder, "The only "F A" I can find in the port books is one Francis Abel or Abell who was an exporter in around 1680. My listing only starts in 1680, so he was probably active before then. Shipments to St Malo and Rouen in France, and Bilboa in Spain. Latest date 1682.
My port book listing goes up to 1755, but there are large gaps.
I have not transcribed the Bale Books which would take the database right through to the 1790s, a task which could be done but would be a lengthy one.
The 1680s seems to be a very early date for this seal, and so is rather doubtful, especially as it was found in the Netherlands. On the other hand, Exeter merchants rarely traded with the Netherlands after about 1750, it was the preserve of Tiverton merchants. The square border is characteristic of Exeter, so one might hazard a guess that this seal dates from the first half of the eighteenth century.
My suggestion is that it remains an as yet unidentified Exeter merchant."
