Wax Seals From Holland

Hello!
My grandmother found these two wax seals among the things her mother had given her, and she believes they belonged to her grandfather or great-grandfather in Holland (which would date them into the late 1700s or early 1800s).
She asked me to see if there was anyone out there who knew anything about Dutch antiques such as this, and could give her more information.
I actually didn't ask if she knew what the seals were, but I can, if that helps.
Thank you so much for any help!

They look like the seals used to close letters before envelopes were avaible, like this one use to seal this Pennsylvania State Senator's cover. Similar to signet rings worn by royality.

It is hard to see on my monitor, but I believe two fish are showing in the bottom left quadrant. This probably is the city seal of one of Holland's numerous fishing villages'

Peter

WOW! Those are stellar and thanks for showing them!

Hello sarahstepp, welcome to Stamp Community!

I started looking on the web site www.delcampe.net , an auction site like www.ebay.com/b/260/" rel="nofollow">ebay) but in Europe, for 'wax seal' but too many items came up as stamps or envelopes with cancels or postmarks or seals on them.

Could be a document seal also look under Old Paper and Seals maybe.

Looks, with the coat of arms (I don't recognize it myself) to be official of some sort so a town, commune, departmente or region seal stamp.

A person would search for the words used in Nederlands or French possibly. I know only English.

Just some hints.

edit: typos

Thanks so much for the help! I'll continue my search! :)

I've sold many old letters with wax seals on them, they were mostly used in the 1800s, by merchants, people of wealth, Sirs and royal people. Basically an estate ownwer would have his own wax seal, usually in red or black. Many with the family coat of arms, some I have seen a persons head image inside the seals, animals used, once I saw a lady holding a baby I a seal. Also some have their own initials in the seals. Here's an example of a Dutch one used as late as 1911 by a Dutch merchant in Italy.

PS your wax seal makers have two different family coat of arms impressions you maybe able to identify which families they belonged to if you can match the coat of arms on the internet. Going by your original post look at names in your own family tree first.

Sarahstepp, do you have any idea which town your relatives were from in the Netherlands? The two seals look alike; even though on one of them the fish (?) look stylized. I can not tell what the other items are. If you could make a wax impression that would help. Also, if you could post a larger picture?

Peter

In hungarian heraldry a coronet with 7 leaves refers to the title of baron (5 leaves low rank nobility, 9 leaves counts). My guess is that theses are family crest, and as Petert4522 said they are alike. 3 heads (not unusual), a fruit (?), two fish (sometimes dolphins) and again 3 heads.
Here is a site, containing many dutch crests, including the villages, but I`m pretty sure this is a family crest:
http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/inde...=Netherlands

Here are the two seals mirrored and expanded and sharpoened a bit.



Perhaps the top is thistle so Scotish (supporter, finsncier?)
The shield symbols could be oak leaves and acorns and then oranges,
and the fish.

St. Maarten in the Carribean?

Mushrooms, truffles?

Hmm... Scottish is a possibility I suppose, but I don't think St. Maarten is.
All my grandmother ever knew was that her family was all Dutch, her mother's side (last name was Rolufs) somehow had some English back there, and I'm finding that "Wischoff" (her father's side) is originally German. The past is very gray in our family, but would be so neat to know, so when we pass these items to my kids, we can pass the story as well!
Thank you for all of your thoughts and help on this!

Still looks Dutch to me, I have Dutch ancestry myself and know for a fact there are many Dutch wax seals with fancy coat of arms like that. sarahstepp what Dutch surnames are you related to? Looking closer at the two seals are similar as Petert4522 stated. The first has a crown at top other one enlarged by Puzzler has a knights helmet with fancy ribbons. Not Scottish more likely Dutch if it came from her Dutch grandfather, two different similar wax seals could indicate two branches of the same family tree. Or husband and wife. The Dutch have very good genealogy records I can advise sarahstepp where to search online if she does not know her grandmothers grandfathers name in Holland.

It could be from any of the wives names that married into your Dutch family ancestors, not forgetting you have 16 great gteat grandparents, you probably have a realitve who has already researched your family tree.

I spoke to my grandmother this afternoon, and she told me that the Rolufs side is originally from Denmark, BUT- her father's mother's maiden name is Moorrees, and they were from a town called Bovenkarspel (sp?).
She said he was a minister- and it would make sense that a minister would need a wax seal- with a cross... Right?

Ooh, I feel like we're getting somewhere!