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 with an acanthus-leaf design on all four sides. Inside are 27 brass double-sided seals, giving 55 mottos to use in total, mostly in French but with a few English and Italian mottos too. These are:
- A mouse and a lion, caught in a net: 'Patience' / 'Dopo come Avant'
- A sunset: 'Je reviendrai' / A dog and bird in a tree: 'Fin Contre Fin'.
- An anchor: 'L'espérance me soutient' / A road: 'En vain le destin nous sépare'.
- A tree trunk with ivy: 'Je meurs ou je m'attache' / A Bee Hive: 'Nul n'en penetre le secret'.
- A Harlequin / 'L'Homme Propose, Dieu Dispose'.
- A Horse / An Envelope: 'Allez heureuse'!
- A hot air balloon: 'A Good Journey' / A storm weathered tree: 'Mieux vaut rompre que plier'.
- An oak leaf: 'I change only in death' / A man on an elephant: 'La Raison Fait Ma Force'.
- A devil fishing / A swamp with typha: 'Telle est ma destinée'.
- A horse: 'Fier mais sensible' / 'Taci' (?).
- A dog: 'Reconnaissance' / A pair of scissors: 'We part to meet again'.
- A running dog: 'Je suis pressée' / 'Nessun Tempo Lo Cangia'.
- A harp: 'pas d'harmonie sans accord' / A wolf and cow: 'La Raison du Plus Fort'.
- A swallow: 'Toujours erante, Jamais Infidele' / An oak tree: 'Cresce non cambia'.
- A deer: 'La douleur cause ma fuite' / 'Far Bene, Lasciar Dire'.
- An envelope: 'Va où je voudrais être' / A horse: 'd'obstacle m'encourage'.
- A snail: 'toujours chez moi' / A Rose: 'Thy Sweetness is my Life'.
- Clasped hands: 'Pour Toujours' / Stormy waters: 'Telle est la vie'.
- Two fighting roosters: 'Until Death' / 'Il Giusto, Il Ver, La Liberta, Sospiro'.
- An oak tree: 'À L'épreuve du temps' / 'From a Friend'.
- A mirror: 'Ever the Same' / A dog.
- A person lost at sea: 'Si Riperdo son Perdu a' / 'Amirizia'.
- A Skull: 'J'ai ete, je suis, tu serais' / A quill: 'Toujours Sincere'.
- A tiger: 'Garde a Vous' / 'Plus demil que joie'.
- A flying bird: 'Sans crainte' / 'Più fatti, Che parole'.
- A knight on horseback: 'paix ou guerre' / A lovers knot in heaven: Plus Lion Plus Serré.
- 'AM' / a blank seal, which could be personalised.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 62 x 18 x 16 mm. Each seal measures 13 x 10 mm.
Weight: 80.50 grams
Age: 19th Century, circa 1840s.
Material: Partially gilded brass.
Condition: In good antique condition with signs of wear, consistent with its age. The internal draw was broken at some point, which means it no longer draws out when you open the case, but has to be pried out gently with your fingers. Originally the set had 30 seals, so 3 are missing.
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.