Help To ID An Old Legal Stamp

Any Help On this Legal Stamp?

thanks

I'd say it was UK - reign of Victoria.

Strictly speaking it is not a "stamp". It is called, I believe, a Cypher Label and it was placed on the back of a document to cover the metal fixing or staple which attached a revenue stamp to the front of a document.

Further to Scotzm.

Mutilated stationery, embossed stamp with metal staple, covered by (Cipher) Cypher stamp / Label.

The process is referred to as "Escutcheoning"

Odd notes from my enquiries in 2007
Author : Mr Blair Stannard Canada (From which, I received a Christmas card this morning )

(Note Links will now not work)

Rod wrote:
> Blair, a "blanket" thank you with all your assistance
> over many posts.
> I remain unconvinced with "escutcheoning",
> I felt it had something to do with imprinting Vellum.
>
> Perhaps it means imprinting the Queen's image on Vellum.
> Have you ever come across a stamp, Revenue or otherwise, on Vellum?
> Cheers.


Rodney:

"Escutcheoning" was a method to ensure that revenue
stamps did not detach from vellum / parchment documents.

=========================================

Colonial Proofs: De La Rue Colonial Proofs: 1901 (Oct.)
"REPORT/UPON/STAMPING OF DOCUMENTS", a four page
confidential document on the recommended system of affixing
revenues to parchment documents - "ADHESIVE STAMPS,
which may adhere firmly for a lengthened period, are
nevertheless liable in course of years to become detached,
owing to the greasy matter which exudes from the parchment."
The last page shows perf. 14 "IMPERIUM" 6d. in dull lilac and
carmine affixed over escutcheon and tied by imitation red
embossed seal, together with escutcheon tying piece of
paper through page and photograph of escutcheoning knife.

=====================================

The embossed revenue stamps were on a seperate
piece of paper from the document. They were slit
twice with an escutcheoning knife and a (metal) band
passed through the two slits in the stamp (and the
parchment of course).

http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/ima...ndenture93b.
jpg

On the reverse side the ends of the band were folded
to secure it and they were then tied to the back of the
document with a paper seal bearing the monarch's insignia.
http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/vie...denture93c.j
pg?vvid=52194094

I believe the band was also known as an escutcheon.
The document front would look like this.
http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/vie...denture93.jp
g?vvid=52194094&allow_track_link=1&track=023548f19e-b3bb4&sp=0

Blair

The Cypher Seals are a study unto themselves,
they were engraved with the Monarch's Monogram from copper Plates
each with 320 dies. At least 18 different plates were used over 220 years, often with re-cuts.

quoted from http://onderaloupe.nl (10 years ago)

I agree with Rod. I find them fascinating, though I've not studied them in any great depth. I have a 3 page document with a seal on each page, and the monograms are much simpler than yours and his.
Might be interesting to get a collection of images together from members here, and see if we can construct some sort of timeline. Mine date from 1842-43.

Thanks for the replies and info..interesting read..

The staple was made of tin.