BSG.BS.00939 — Russian Bale Seal, Baltic States, Flax, NP, 1791

Found in Northern England, 20 x 23mm, 12.8g.

First side:- First line - NP = unknown initials.* Second line - IM12K = initials and numerals indicating the content of the bales. Third line - 1791 = date of assessment.

Second side:- First line - ПД = PD = Hemp Inspection but could also stand for Port Inspection or Tow Inspection. Second & Third line - П.ЛЕБ = P.LyeB ЕДЕ(B?) = yeDyeV = name of quality control officer - *three other NP seals with P.Lebedev as the QA officer are known - one in Malton Museum Yorkshire (1796 MM: 2006.22), one in Arbroath Signal Tower Museum (1790s ADMUS: M1998.161) and one in the National Museums of Scotland although the initial P is not certain here (1827 NMS: RM 9.11.94) Fourth line - H6? = N6? = number of work station used by QA officer.

See section 5.2.4.1 - 3, p.21, *]Russian Cloth Seals in Britain: Trade, Textiles and Origins by John Sullivan.

This is a Russian flax bale quality control seal.

Inscription deciphered and completed by Ged Dodd of The PeaceHavens Project, IDS 42 using his extensive database:- ЛД = LD / П. ЛEБEДEBЬ = P.LEBEDEV / N61 // NP / IM12K / 1791