This 19th-century wax seal travel set was used in the 19th Century to close personal letters with hot wax. This set offered ready-to-use seals with several apt, often humorous, mottos that could be selected depending on the content or receiver of that specific letter.
This partially gilded brass case has been intricately worked on all four sides. Two sides depict Cupid's quiver and arrow, one side has an empty cartouche, and the last side shows a cartouche with the portrait of Ovid, the most famous Roman writer.
Inside is the complete set of 30 brass double-sided seals, giving 58 mottos to use in total, mostly in French but with a few English mottos too. These are:
- A coiled snake which is split in two: 'Se Rejoindre ou Mourir' / A heart: 'Il est Blessé'.
- A road: 'En fain le destin nous sépare' / A wolf and cow: 'La Raison du Plus Fort'.
- A mouse and a lion, caught in a net: 'Patience' / A flower and sun: 'Privee de toi Mourir'.
- The sun: 'I Never Stop' / Two fighting roosters: 'Until Death'.
- Stormy waters: 'Telle est la vie' / An ocean: 'Calme au sein des obages'.
- A Pelican feeding her young with her own blood: 'Tout Pour les Miens' / 'Dimanche'.
- Two clasped hands: 'Amitie' / A lovers knot: Plus Lion Plus Serré (further, tighter)
- A dog: 'Reconnaissance' / A portractor: 'Toujours Droit'.
- A man on an elephant: 'La Raison Fait Ma Force' / 'Jeudi'.
- Cupid riding a dog: 'Fidelity me conduit' / an unreadable Gothic word.
- A bird flying to the sun: 'El Desafio' (the challenge) / A Bee Hive: 'Nul n'en penetre le secret'.
- A snail: 'toujours chez moi' / A hare and a tortoise: 'droit chemin'.
- An anchor: 'Esperance' /
- A fox and a rooster in a tree: 'Fin Contre Fin'.
- A fire: 'Vive et pure' / 'Mercredi'.
- A running dog: 'Je suis pressée' / A harp: 'pas d'harmonie sans accord'.
- A knight on horseback: 'Paix ou Guerre' / 'Samedi'.
- A horse: 'L’Obstacle m'Encourage' / 'Plus demil que joie'.
- A vulture: 'Plus d'esperance' / 'Lundi'.
- A knight: 'Sans Peur et Sans Reproche' / 'Mardi'.
- An envelope: 'Va où je Voudrais être' / A butterfly: 'La Douceur est Ma Vie'.
- A peace dove: 'L'apporte la paix' / L'Homme Propose, Dieu Dispose'.
- A horse: 'Fier mais sensible' / A sunset: 'Je reviendrai'.
- A hot air balloon: 'Bon Voyage' / A swallow: 'Le froid me chasse'.
- A hummingbee: 'J'attends' / A ship at sea: 'Te perdant je suis perdu'.
- A tiger: 'Garde a Vous' / A swamp with typha: 'Telle est ma destinée'.
- A tree trunk with ivy: 'Je meurs ou je m'attache' / A heart and quill: 'C'est la qu'elle puise'.
- An oak leaf: 'Je ne change ou à la mort' / A flower bouquet: 'Pour Vous'.
- A mirror: 'Je Dis la Vérité' / A pocket watch: 'Calme au Dehors, Agitée au Delans'.
- A quill: 'Always Sincere' / A deer: 'Pain causes my Flight'.
- And lastly, a seal with two empty sides, which could be personalized.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 78 x 22 x 18 mm. Each seal measures 13 x 11 mm.
Weight: 84.50 grams
Age: 19th Century, circa 1840s.
Material: Partially gilded brass.
Condition: In good antique condition with only minor signs of wear, consistent with its age. All seals are in good condition, some have appear to have been barely used, while other show signs of wear.
Please note that this store is based in the EU. Although antiques are exempt from taxes in most countries, buyers from outside the EU might be subject to import duties.