Bale seal

Digger_O'Dell

Digger_O'Dell

New member
Hi all,
While detecting one end of the old zoo in an area I've probably been over a dozen times I got a deep iffy 12-32 ish signal that I decided to dig. Very glad I did! At about 8 inches I pulled out my first ever bale seal! Not knowing at the time for sure what I had I posted it on the what is it area. Dan was kind enough to confirm it was a seal and mentioned that there could be a lot of info gained from the stamp.
As I quickly found out there is very little information to be found on the web. But I got very lucky and found an expert in seals that has a very nice online photo catalog. I contacted the site owner, Stuart, who was very quick to write back and identify what I found. It's a Dutch customs seal, post 1815. I'm hoping Stuart can give me more information as to a closer date or what it may have been used on but I'm not holding my breath. I am almost certain it predates the zoo though, and may be from the old military road that used to run past there in the early days. I guess it's also the first one he's seen with that particular number and my seal is now included in his catalog! :wow:

Here's the link to my catalog entry:
http://www.bagseals.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=35063



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Update: Got word back that nothing is currently known about the numbering system or what the seals were attached to, but Stuart and another historian are beginning a study to try and find out. He did note that he thinks it's the only one found in the US that he's aware of! Very cool...:happydance01: He also noted that the Dutch did do a lot of trading in Colonial times mainly with New Amsterdam (New York), and those older seals ate somewhat common. But those and the one I found have about a 200 year and 900 mile gap
 
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That is a very cool find! If only that thing could talk! It will be interesting to see what they come back with as far as research and if that helps identify this as an original period drop or an item dropped years later.
 
Very nice find! Always nice to be able to date something and garner history off an item. BTW, the Peace Havens site..I've been a subscriber for years. That guy knows his seals and detects some great places in the Yorkshire Dales.

John
 
BTV Digger said:
Very nice find! Always nice to be able to date something and garner history off an item. BTW, the Peace Havens site..I've been a subscriber for years. That guy knows his seals and detects some great places in the Yorkshire Dales.

John
Click to expand...

John, both Stuart and Ged seemed quite excited and msy be even a little baffled by a 19th century Durch seal being here in the US. I find it amazing that something once so mundane could become possibly my best find to date.
 
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