Cloth Seals: An Illustrated Guide to the Identification of Lead Seals Attached to Cloth

We are very lucky to have small, contemporary records of history scattered throughout our soil in the form of lead seals. With a couple of notable exceptions, they have largely been ignored by archaeologists and historians, but the recent explosion in the numbers found and recorded has helped to bring their importance and potential to the attention of those interested in our heritage. This book is intended to be a repository 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 indicators of post medieval and early modern industry and trade. It is, primarily, a guide to help with the identification of cloth seals, both those found within and those originating from the United Kingdom. Most of the extra examples, referenced beneath the images, can be quickly located and viewed through access to the internet. Table of Contents Introduction to Cloth Seals: Aim Sources Introduction Basic Identification of Cloth Seal Type Component Parts of a Cloth Seal The Use of Lead Cloth Seals Alnage & Subsidy Cloth Seal Matrices Lead v Wax Seals The Type of Seals Attached to a Cloth (and Woven Marks) Dating of Cloth Seals Ordering of Presentation Images List and Description of Seals: Seals of Known Locations Seals of Known Monarch Seals with Type of Cloth Named Seals for Faulty Cloth Seals of Guilds and Companies Broad Arrow Seals Alnage Seals Searchers’ Seals Clothworkers’ Personal Seals Other Seals Conventionally Grouped with Cloth Seals Continental Seals Cloth Seal Identification Resources Handling, Cleaning and Obtaining Images of Lead Seals Bibliography Appendix 1: Time-line of Events & Legislation in the Textile Industry with Emphasis on the Use of Cloth Seals & the Information They Displayed Appendix 2: Types of Cloth Appendix 3: List of Known Alnagers and Their Agents Appendix 4: Known 16th & 17th Century Clothworkers’ Privy Marks Appendix 5: Distinctive Identification Features on Cloth Seals Appendix 6: Tubular Cloth Seals Employed by the Dutch Immigrant Cloth Makers in 16th and 17th Century England Index