This book is intended to help with the identification of cloth seals, both those found within and those originating from the United Kingdom. Many of the extra examples referenced can be quickly viewed through access to the internet. Where a number of examples have been recorded those with the best images have been selected but, of course, all of them, and any new additions subsequent to the publication of this book, can be viewed through the use of the search facilities offered by the particular websites. I have attempted to make this work a repository of the majority of the salient information currently available on the identification of cloth seals and a source of new material that extends our understanding of these important, contemporary records of post medieval and early modern history.
Terminology:-
Cloth seal – a lead2 seal, predominantly riveted to lengths of cloth
Bag seal – a lead, bulla-type seal attached to containers of goods with a cord (also known as sack seals)
Bale seal – (a particular type of bag seal) a lead bulla-type seal attached to bales of raw material such as flax and hemp with a cord
Rivet disc – the disc from a cloth seal of which the rivet is an integral part. (disc 1)
Rivet stub – the rivet projection on the reverse of the rivet disc
Rove disc – the disc from a cloth seal that contains one or more holes through which the rivet passes for attachment. The ‘rove disc side’ includes the stub of the rivet after
stamping. (disc 2 or a higher number dependent on the number of discs included in the seal)
Rove disc side – the side that includes the rove disc and rivet stub
Connecting strip – the strip of lead that connects the rivet and rove discs, sometimes via inner discs, and which is bent around the selvedge of the cloth in use.
See appendix 2 for types of cloth mentioned, p.347.
