Letter seal, which consists of (a) a brass stamp and (b) a handle of unknown material; the seal/stamp is round and flat with what appear to be the letters "JS" engraved on the outer side; the other side has a hollow cylindrical piece with threading on the inside, attached at the centre; the handle …
Letter seal, which consists of (a) a brass stamp and (b) a handle of unknown material; the seal/stamp is round and flat with what appear to be the letters "JS" engraved on the outer side; the other side has a hollow cylindrical piece with threading on the inside, attached at the centre; the handle is made of a hard, brown material and is solid and cylindrical with a bulbous outer end that tapers in and out with five ridged sections towards the front; the front has a threaded piece that screws into the stamp. Deaccessioned.
Number Of Parts
2
Part Names
a - seal - Size: Length 1.3 cm x Diam. 1.8 cm
b - handle - Size: Length 6.2 x Diam. 3.1 cm
Provenance
2013: Not proven to be true: Believed by the donor to have been originally owned and used by Florence Nightingale; passed down through the Salsbury family (see attached information sheet); the Florence Nightingale connection cannot be confirmed; based upon the initials on the seal ("JS"), it is now believed that this seal might first have belonged to the donor's ancestor, Private James Francis Salsbury and not Florence Nightingale.
Dates
1854
1920
circa 1854-1920
Date Remarks
2013: Not proven to be true: Given to Private James Francis Salsbury during the Crimean War.
Material
metal: yellow
Inscriptions
(a) the outer (bottom) side of the stamp has what appear to be the letters "JS" stamped into the metal
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-C3-9
Temporary Location
Deaccessioned 2013
Condition Remarks
(a) The brass is slightly tarnished and shows minor wear; no corrosion is visible; (b) the handle is complete; two small cracks are visible
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Document
Reference Comments
Salsbury Family History (attached)
Research Facts
The seal was used to impress a family initial into hot wax to seal letters; the donor signed the gift form with the spelling "Salisbury," not the "Salsbury" found in the family history.