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Baltic States Crossed Keys Flax/Hemp Bale Seals

The City Arms of the Vatican

The keys refer to the
promise of Christ to Peter, "I will entrust to you the
keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you declare
bound on earth shall be bound in heaven; whatever you
declare loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
They are a symbol of the power the Catholic Church
believes that Christ gave to Saint Peter and his
successors, with the gold key signifying that the power
reaches to heaven and the silver key that it extends to
all the faithful on earth, the interlacing indicating
the linking between the two aspects of the power, and
the handles of the key being at the base to symbolize
the power being in the hands of the pope.
Tu es Petrus et super
hanc petram aedificabo ecclasiam meam et tibi dabo
claves regni coelorum
You are Peter and on this rock I will build my own, and
I will give you the keys of heaven.
Everything with
a key or crossed keys can be related to any church
named Saint Peters, in any location, so additional
information is needed to indicate the city of origin,
in the case of Riga City flax bale seals this is the
Orthodox cross + between the bits.
|
Ged Dodd's suggested rules for
identifying Crossed Key Seals
 |
There are lots of different seals with crossed keys from all over
Europe.
Russian Flax Bale seals usually have round circular bows (O) whereas other
crossed keys have all sorts of weird shapes. If it is not round it is not flax.
True Riga have a Christian cross (+ )
but so do a few non Riga flax bale
seals.
Other City Seals have a Saltire (x) but these are trying to imitate Riga
quality.
|
 |
|
+ + +
+ + + + |
X X X
X X X X |
 |
+ a True
Riga Flax has the Christian cross
The bits are square with + shaped internal lines.
The bows are perfectly ROUND and LARGE.
The grading number between the bits is 1, 2 or 3. |
X Other City States have the
Saltire Cross.
The
bits are small empty squares.
The
bows are perfectly ROUND but SMALL.
The
grading number can be absent, 1, 2, 3 or 4.
Perhaps trying to infer they are Riga quality. |
 |
 |
+
Probable Riga Flax with a Christian cross
The bits are square with X shaped internal
lines.
The bows are perfectly ROUND and LARGE.
The grading number between the bits is 1, 2 or 3. |
Saltire Cross X with empty bits
and small bows. Grading No. 1.
The
usually blank reverse has the
letters
P St (Port St. Petersburg). |
 |
 |
 |
+
Probable Riga Flax with a Christian cross
The bits are square and empty.
The bows are perfectly ROUND but SMALL.
The grading number between the bits is 1. |
Saltire Cross X with empty bits
and small bows and
Grade
1. There is a large letter B on the right side.
Badstuben
is
a
refuse grade
of
the top quality
Rakitzer flax from the
Drujaner & Coupland region. |
 |
 |
Probable Riga Flax with
no Christian cross
The bits are square and part lined.
The bows are perfectly ROUND and LARGE.
The grading number between the bits is 1. |
Saltire Cross X with
full bits
and small bows and
Grade
1. Not Riga. There is an R and H either side
of the left
hand key which could be taken as Rein
Hemp. To date
this seal is unique, Suggesting X
seals could be
hemp seals.
|
 |
 |
Christian
Cross + with empty bits
and round bows.
There
are 3 letters W T W between the keys.
W
Wrack or bracked as W
Weiss or
White Flax.
T is usually TAMOЖHЯ = Customs
tax paid.
Click
Here for these Cross Key Tax Seals
|
Riga Lettered Seals
have R I G
A in Latin letters.
The bits are open ended and
not squares.
The
bows are small and usually round .
No grading number and they are probably
Black
Balsam or
Merchant seals, not flax. |
 |
 |
Christian
Cross + with empty bits
and round bows.
There
are 2 letters T K between the keys.
T is usually TAMOЖHЯ = Customs
tax paid.
K is high quality KRON (Krown)
grade flax.
Click Here for
these Cross Key Tax Seals |
Chunky
+ between small bits suggests a
Riga seal.
Small round bows with blob. No grading number.
The surround has a noticeable spiky
plant vine
which could suggest it's a herbal Riga Black Balsam.
(There is
hint of a date 1831 under the keys)
|
 |
 |
Christian
Cross +, with
+ bits
and round bows. There
are 2 letters F H between the keys. This is a
letter graded True Riga Tow seal
where
F is Fein (Fine) and H is
HEIDE (low
quality
grade Tow)
short broken fiber of flax, hemp. |
+ Riga Black Balsam Seals.
Cross between bits.
The bits are
ragged ended and
not squares.
Small bows & usually tri formed with three leaves .
No grading number with
religious virtuous text.
Click Here for
Riga Black Balsam Seals
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Riga Crossed Keys Flax Seals
Riga
obtains its flax chiefly from White Russia and Marienburg in Livonia.
Riga flax seems to deserve the preference of any imported from the Baltic. It is
the growth of the provinces of Marienburg, Druania, Thiesenhausen and Lithuania.
The best Marienburg is called simply Marienburg M or Marienburg Clean. The
second quality cut GM and the third Risten Dreyband RD. Of the three other
provinces the first quality bears the name of Rakitzer as Druania Rakitzer DR,
Thiesenhausen Rakitzer TR. and Lithuania Rakitzer LR. The cut flax of these
three provinces is the second quality and to the third quality belong the
Badstub and Cut B and BG, the paternoster PN, and Hafs Three Band HD. Badstub
and Paternoster is the refuse of the Rakitzer flax and the Three Band. The
refuse of the former sorts and consequently very ordinary.
Riga crossed keys flax seals are dated from the early 18th to mid 19th
century when the keys had round bow rings.
- - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - -- - - - - - - - - - -
Click Here for
more Riga History and Tax Seals
- - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - -- - - - - - - - - - -
Russian Flax Bale Seals
Crossed Keys Types from Baltic Port Riga.
Flax
seals from Riga bear the crossed keys of the city arms.
Some of these seals may also be St Petersburg
.. see note (SPB)
Russian flax bale seals are the "bulla" type, a disc with
a tunnel
from side to side through which a string or wire is
passed.
|
 |
** Because we have not physically seen the seals from "Museums & Other Sites"
we can not vouch for their 100% accuracy.
The soft lead are easily distorted which makes the Cyrillic alphabet very
difficult to read and mistakes are common.
Lead Flax Bale Seals from
the Baltic City Port of Riga.
On occasions Riga inspected flax and hemp were shipped
via Konigsberg.

The important parts of a key for us are the bow and the bit.

We are looking for a cross + between the bits and a grading
number 1, 2 or 3 between the bows.
Deciphering
Riga Cross Keys
Seals .. example |
 |
obverse
Crossed
Keys with
+ |
The
crossed keys are the Arms of the City of Riga, but also
of other cities.
To be a Riga seal there must be a
+ between
the bits, at the top,
and
a number 1, 2 or 3 between
the bows at the bottom to indicate the grading.
(A
cross in the form of a X may indicate hemp)
|
 |
reverse
blank |
The reverse of a Riga seal is usually blank.
We do have
a couple of examples of X types
with a 4, (which could be 4 band quality hemp)
and Pst which could suggest St.
Petersburg for the X seals.
|
 |
The City Arms are used on their own for Driebandt (Threeband) flax in
Memel and this could well be the case
for Riga and the other Baltic States ports. |
 |
Notes:-
variations are numerous.
From the late 18th Century
Riga had a method of grading flax for sale on the world markets which, unfortunately, was committed to paper,
and not
put on the seals. Project member Sebastian Graham located
reports in the Belfast Linen Trade Circular for 1863 which gave the grades of flax available from
Riga to the UK for that time. In order of quality and price, WFPHD
(White Fine Picked,Yellow Threeband flax), WFPK (White Fine Picked Crown flax), HFPK (Yellow Fine
Picked Crown flax) FPK (Fine Picked Crown flax), PK (Picked Crown flax
whilst a bundle from the port of Koenigsberg was FWPCM (Fine White Picked Crown
Marienburg flax).
|
The letter on the right of the group was called the
base letter to which
other letters were added at the front to further describe the flax.
The code for Riga grades and types which was also
used at some other ports
RUSSIAN FLAXES RELATIVE VALUE .. From
Yarns & Fabrics by Fred Bradbury 1920 |
#
|
Market |
Base Mark |
Quality,
Mark and Relative Value to the Base Mark |
1 |
RIGA |
K |
PK |
SPK |
ZK |
R |
|
|
Crown
Flaxes |
Krown
base £ |
Picked
Krown
+£3 |
Superior
Picked Krown
+£7 |
Zinc Krown
+£10 |
Rakitzer
+£13/10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
HOFF |
HD |
PHD |
FHD |
SFHD |
XHDX |
XRX |
|
Crown
Flaxes |
Hoff's
Threeband
base £ |
Picked Hoff's
Threeband
+£3 |
Fine Hoff's
Threeband
+£6 |
Superior Fine Hoff's
Threeband
+£9 |
Extra Hoff's
Threeband
+£12 |
Extra
Rakitzer
+£16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
PERNAU |
D |
LOD |
OD |
D |
HD |
R |
G |
Crown
Flaxes |
Driebandt Threeband
base £ |
Livonia Ordinary
Driebandt
minus £6 |
Ordinary Driebandt
minus £3 |
Driebandt Threeband
base £ |
Hoff's
Threeband
+£4 |
Rakitzer
+£8 |
Best
+£11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 = Threeband
4 = Fourband is
superior to 3-band , both
exported to England from Libau & Memel.
B = Badstuben, a type of
Threeband
(Drujaner & Coupland flax)
BG = Badstuben Geschnitten,
Badstuben Cut
(as above)
CM = Crown Marienburg.
CR = Courland Rakitzer was
not as good as the other Rakitzers
CPH =
Crukken Pass Hemp .. preferred types are from Russia and
Poland
D = Driebandt,
Threeband. The
City Arms used alone for Threeband flax in
Memel.
DC =
Druana Crown from Tilsit
DD = Drujaner Dreibandt,
Drujaner Threeband .
DR = Druana (Drujaner) Rakitzer,
High Quality White Russian .
DRD = Drujaner Risten Dreibandt,
Drujaner Bundle Threeband was fine in fibre, moderately long, clean,
soft, white, silver coloured and fit for spinning the finest yarns.
DW = Dreibandt Wrack,
Threeband Brack
F = Fein, Fine
FHD = Fein Hoff's Driebandt, Fine Hoff's Threeband;
FPHD = Fein Puik
Hoff's Driebandt, Fine Picked Threeband. (Portuguese)
FPK = Fein Puik Kron, Fine Picked Crown.
FPSD = Fein Puik
Slansky Driebandt, Fine Picked Slanitz Threeband, Fine Pink
Slansky
threeband.
FWPCM = Fine White Picked Crown Marienburg flax from the port of Koenigsberg.
G. German
G
= BEST from Pernau
G = Geschnitten, cut rejected crown.
G = Grau, Grey.
GRD = Geschnitten Risten Dreibandt, cut bundle threeband.
GW = Giligen Brack, Low Grade Threeband.
H = Hell, Heel, Light, Yellow.
H = Heide, TOW when
used as the base letter .
HD = Hoffdreibandt,
Hoff's Threeband
(English) from Livonia.
HFPK (Hoff) Yellow Fine Picked Crown flax.
K
= KPOHЪ (Kron) Crown is high quality long
strong filament flax. Better grades are PK, FPK &
ZK.
KPC =
Konigsberg Podolia Crown from Tilsit
KRK = Kourland Rakitzer Kron, High Quality Courland Rakitzer Crown.
LC = Lithuanian
Czukken hemp
is as Rein Hemp but less oily and soft.
LD = Leiden Dreibandt,
Lieden Threeband.
LD = Lithuanian
Dreibandt, Lithuanian Threeband.
LD = Livonian
Dreibandt, Lindlandischan Threeband from Livonia
LH = Livonian
Hoffdreibandt, Livonian Threeband Hoff from Livonia
LOD = Livonian Ordinary Driebandt,
Threeband.
LR = Lithuanian
Rakitzer, High Quality Lithuanian flax
but not as good as the other
Rakitzers
LRK = Lithuanian
Rakitzer Kron, High Quality Lithuanian Krown flax
LS =
Lithuanian Slanitz .. dew retted via Riga .. also called
Wellish Slanitz or Wiasma Slanitz
M = Marienburg or
Marienburg Clean, High grade Crown,
a
source of best quality Livonian flax
for Riga.
MБ possibly Marienburg Badstube,
a second grade flax from Riga .
MG = Marienburg Geschnitten, Second Quality Marienburg.
MR = Marienburg Rakitzer = equivalent quality to
Rein Hemp, Rhine Hemp
MRC = MC = Mohilow Russian Czukken hemp
MRD = Marienburg Risten Dreibandt, Marienburg Bundle Threeband.
NB = Notabene is another name for Paternoster
NC =
Newstadt Crown from Memel
NP = Paternoster
is also Badstuben Cut (Sent to Portugal)
O = OTБOPHЬII (OTBORNI) is Select
grade
OC =
Oberland Crown from Tilsit
OD = Ordinary Driebandt, Threeband.
OH = OUTSHOT is short second sort hemp.
P = PICKED, Puik (Pink)
PD = Puik Driebandt, Picked Threeband, pink threeband.
PH = Puik Heide, PIicked Tow flax
PH = PASS HEMP .. usually from Lithuania or Samogitia.
PHD = Puik Hoff's Driebandt, Picked Threeband. (French) Pink
Threeband from
Livonia.
PK. Pass Krown (flax) is very short but clean and free of woody particles.
PK = Picked Krown (Pink Kron) flax.
PLD = Puik Livonian Dreibandt, Picked Linlandischan Threeband
.. Pink Dreibandt from Livonia.
PSD = Puik Slansky Driebandt, Picked Slanitz Threeband, pink
Slansky threeband
PW = Puik Wrack, Picked Brack, Pink Wrack
flax
PZ (ПЗ) is possibly ПEH ЗAБPAKЪ
lowest quality hemp codilla.
R (chista = clean) from
Hemp seal of
1733
R = Risten, bundles
R = Rakitzer
R = Risten, Bundle.
RC = MRC = Mohilow
Russian Czukken hemp
RG = Rakitzer Geschnitten, lowest grade of
Crown
Cut
Rakitzer.
RH (MR) Rein (Rhine) Hemp is
the longest best hemp, oily, strong and free of
Codilla
and woody particles ..
sometimes listed as MR = Marienburg Rakitzer
RSC = Russian
Slanitz Crown from Memel
S. Select
is soft, silk-like flax in 3 grades
S. Spinning
grade
S. Superior
grade
S = Sanft, Sweet, Superior
SD = Slansky Driebandt, Slanitz Threeband.
(
SFHD = Superior Fine Hoff's Threeband.
S G = cut
SH = Slansky Heide, Slanitz Tow
SPK =
Superior Picked Krown
TR = Thiesenhausen Rakitzer, a type of High Quality Lithuanian flax
grown on the estate of Count
Thiesenhausen was of long harle, strong, even, clean, white
and soft.
W = Weiss, White
.. is made up in bundles of 12, 9 and 6 heads called bobbins.
W = Wrack (Brack) Bracked flax
WC = Wilna Crown from Memel
WFPHD
White Fine Picked, Yellow (Hoff) Threeband flax
WFPK White Fine Picked Crown
flax
WK = Wilma Krown on reverse
of seals replacing NP
WS = Wellish Slanitz or Wiasma Slanitz
XHDX = Extra Hoff's Threeband flax
XRX = Extra Rakitzer flax
ZABR,
ZABRACK, (ЗAБP, ЗAБPAKЪ)
lowest quality hemp
ZK = Zinc
Crown
(Zins Kron) flax |
 
Found at Bentham Mills |
# |
OBVERSE click
thumbnail |
REVERSE click
thumbnail |
Notes |
R
b01 |
 |
+ crossed keys 1 |
 |
usually blank
|
True Riga |
Crossed Keys with
+
are Riga City.
Keys
with X
are other cities trying
to mimic the RIGA quality |
R
b02 |
 |
+
crossed keys
2 |
 |
usually
blank
|
True Riga |
R
b03 |
 |
+
crossed keys
1 |
 |
usually
blank
|
True Riga |
R
b04 |
 |
+
crossed keys
1 |
 |
usually
blank
|
True Riga |
R
b05 |
 |
+
crossed keys
1 |
 |
usually
blank |
True
Riga |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Found at West House
Mills |
# |
OBVERSE click
thumbnail |
REVERSE click
thumbnail |
Notes |
Riga
w01 |
 |
+
crossed keys
1 |
 |
usually
blank
|
Suspect Riga empty bits small bows |
Dating Cross Key Seals
Considering the largest number of Riga
cross seals have been found at West House Mills it would suggest
they were most prevalent during the time of the dated seals at that mill
.. which means in the latter part 18th century to the early 1800's.
..Paul Cannon notes ..
A reference to what is probably a lead seal attached
to hemp is to be found in a document in the National Archives:
from Robert Thornton, hemp
merchant, of Mark Lane.
Receipt of letter from the Portsmouth Officers complaining
of the heat in the delivery of hemp. But Hemp or flax delivered in the summer season
will always be very hot. The Prospero, Captain Adam Rigden, is delivering hemp
which will doubtless be very hot. He has never known a Ropemaker complain of the quality of the hemp and his hemp meets his contract so he asks that the Ropemaker should check the quality and that his ships should be immediately
unloaded.
The hemp has been well cured otherwise it would not have passed the Barack at Riga, which is proved by the mark on the roundels.
The document is dated 7 July 1732.
If the marked ‘roundels’ are indeed lead seals then this date is
earlier than the dated seal so far recovered of 1737 for St
Petersburg.
Riga is
specifically referred to and it is possible that they are plain crossed
keys type and if so,
then some of these may be earlier than has been assumed.
Ged Dodd
adds that ...
none of these
Riga seals have an inscription stating whether they are hemp or flax ..

|
Riga
w02 |
 |
+
crossed keys
1 |
 |
usually
blank
|
Riga |
Riga
w03 |
 |
+
crossed keys
1 |
 |
usually
blank
|
Riga |
Riga
w04 |
 |
blank |
 |
Blank |
Riga
|
Riga
w05 |
 |
X
crossed keys
B Badstuben
1 |
 |
blank
|
Not Riga
(Drujaner & Coupland flax)
Libau & Memel |
Riga
w06 |
 |
+
crossed keys
1 |
 |
usually
blank
|
True Riga |
Riga
w07 |
 |
+
(empty bits)
crossed keys
small round bows
|
 |
usually
blank
|
Not textbook
Riga |
Riga
w08 |
 |
X
crossed keys
1 |
 |
usually
blank
|
Not Riga |
Riga
w09 |
 |
x
crossed keys
2 |
 |
usually
blank
|
Not Riga |
Riga
w10 |
 |
+
crossed keys
1 |
 |
usually
blank
|
Riga |
Riga
w11 |
 |
X
crossed keys
2 |
 |
usually
blank
|
Not Riga |
Riga
w12 |
 |
+
crossed keys
1 |
 |
usually
blank
|
Probably Riga |
Riga
w13 |
 |
X
crossed keys
1 |
 |
usually
blank
|
Not Riga |
Riga w14 |
 |
+
crossed keys
1 |
 |
usually blank
|
True Riga |
Riga w15 |
 |
+ crossed keys 1 |
 |
usually
blank
|
Probably Riga |
Riga w16 |
 |
+
crossed keys
1 |
 |
usually blank
|
Probably Riga |
Riga w17 |
 |
+
crossed keys 1 |
 |
usually blank
|
True Riga |
Riga w18 |
 |
X
crossed keys
2 |
 |
usually blank
|
not Riga |
Riga w19 |
 |
+
crossed keys 1 |
 |
usually blank
|
True Riga |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Found at Aked High
Mills
* found at Whinny Hill |
# |
OBVERSE click
thumbnail |
REVERSE click
thumbnail |
Notes |
Riga
AWX1 |
 |
X
crossed keys
1 |
 |
usually blank
|
Not Riga
* |
Riga
AWX2 |
 |
X
crossed keys
2 |
 |
usually blank
|
Not Riga
* |
|
|
|
Found at Little Patrick
Mills |
# |
OBVERSE click
thumbnail |
REVERSE click
thumbnail |
Notes |
Riga
L0 1 |
 |
x
crossed keys
1 |
 |
usually
blank
|
not Riga |
|
Riga
L0 2 |
 |
x
crossed keys
1 |
 |
usually
blank
|
not Riga |
Riga
L0 3 |
 |
X
crossed keys
1 |
 |
usually
blank
|
Not Riga
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Found at
Knaresborough |
# |
OBVERSE click
thumbnail |
REVERSE click
thumbnail |
Notes |
Riga
Kn01 |
 |
+
crossed keys
|
 |
usually
blank
|
herbal Black Balsam
or city cloth seal |

|
Riga
Kn 02 |
 |
+
crossed keys
-
|
 |
usually
blank
|
herbal Black Balsam
or city cloth seal |
Riga
Kn 03 |
 |
+
crossed keys
-
|
 |
usually
blank
|
Not Riga empty bits small bows
|
Riga
Kn 04 |
 |
+
crossed keys
-
|
 |
usually
blank
|
True Riga |
Riga
Kn 05 |
 |
X
crossed keys
2
|
 |
usually
blank
|
Not Riga
2nd grade |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Found at King Horn Mills in Fife |
# |
OBVERSE click
thumbnail |
REVERSE click
thumbnail |
Notes |
Riga
KH01 |
 |
+
crossed keys
2 |
 |
blank
|
True Riga |
Riga
KH02 |
 |
+
crossed
keys
2 |
 |
blank
|
True Riga |
Riga
KH03 |
 |
+
crossed
keys
2 |
 |
blank
|
True Riga |
Riga
KH04 |
 |
+
crossed
keys
1 |
 |
blank
|
probably Riga |
Riga
KH05 |
 |
X
crossed keys
2 |
 |
blank
|
Not Riga empty bits small bows 2nd grade flax |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Found at Folly Gill
Mills |
# |
OBVERSE click
thumbnail |
REVERSE click
thumbnail |
Notes |
Riga
L03 |
 |
x
crossed keys
3 |
 |
scallops
|
not Riga empty bits small bows |
 |
|
Found at Brompton Mills |
# |
OBVERSE click
thumbnail |
REVERSE click
thumbnail |
Notes |
BR keys 001 |
 |
+ crossed keys
2
|
 |
blank |
True Riga |
|
BR
keys
002 |
 |
+ crossed keys
no grade number |
 |
blank |
True Riga |
the left hand side of the keys is missing |
BR
keys
003 |
 |
X crossed keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Not Riga x in bits small bows |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Found at Arbroath |
# |
OBVERSE click
thumbnail |
REVERSE click
thumbnail |
Notes |
Arb
X 01 |
 |
+
crossed keys
2 |
 |
blank
|
True Riga |
|
Arb
X 02 |
 |
+
crossed keys
2 |
 |
blank
|
Doubtful
Riga |
|
Arb X03 |
 |
X crossed keys 1 |
no photo |
blank |
1 ADMUS:
A1988.287
Not Riga |
Arb X04 |
no photo |
РИЖ 1787 (Riga Arms) |
no photo |
blank
Black Balsam |
2 ADMUS:
A1988.288 |
Arb X05 |
no photo |
+ / crossed keys / 1 |
no photo |
blank |
7 ADMUS:
A1988.294 |
|
Arb X06 |
no photo |
+ / crossed keys / 3 |
no photo |
blank |
13
ADMUS:
A1988.301 |
|
Arb X07 |
no photo |
+ / crossed keys / 2 |
no photo |
blank |
28 ADMUS:
A2000.87.3 |
|
Arb X08 |
no photo |
+ / crossed keys / 1 |
no photo |
blank |
31 ADMUS:
A2003.53 |
Arb X09 |
no photo |
+ / crossed keys / 2 |
no photo |
blank |
39 ADMUS:
DBM.42179(a) |
Arb
X10 |
 |
+
crossed keys
2 |
 |
blank
|
Doubtful Riga (flax)
IDS 265 |
Ident Service for
Private Sources |
# |
OBVERSE click
thumbnail |
REVERSE click
thumbnail |
Notes |
IDS
011 |
 |
?
crossed Keys
2 (grade) |
 |
blank |
Probably Riga |


St Saviour's Church, Riga, 1863
 |
IDS
186 |
 |
X
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
PSt
(Port St
Petersburg) |
Not Riga (SPB) empty bits small bows |
IDS
234 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
True Riga |
IDS
425 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
? |
 |
blank |
True Riga |
IDS
583 |
 |
+ crossed keys 1 |
 |
blank |
True Riga
|
IDS 614 |
 |
+
crossed keys
1 |
 |
blank |
True Riga |
IDS 615 |
 |
X
crossed keys
2 |
 |
blank |
Not Riga empty bits small bows |
IDS 616 |
 |
+
crossed keys
1 |
 |
blank |
True Riga |
IDS
787.1 |
 |
+
crossed keys
2 |
no photo |
blank |
True Riga |
IDS
787.2 |
 |
X
crossed keys
. |
no photo |
???? |
Not
Riga
City Cloth Seal |
Cr 031 |
|
+ Crossed Keys 3 |
no photo |
blank |
True Riga |
IDS 813 |
 |
+ crossed keys
2 |
 |
blank |
True Riga |
IDS 814 |
 |
+ crossed keys
1 |
 |
blank |
True Riga |
IDS 815 |
 |
+ crossed keys
? |
 |
blank |
True Riga |
IDS
875 |
 |
+ crossed keys
3 |
 |
blank |
True Riga
|
IDS 899 |
 |
+
crossed keys
1 |
 |
blank |
True Riga
|
IDS
913 |
 |
x
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank
|
Not
Riga |
IDS
926 |
 |
X
Crossed Keys
3 |
 |
blank |
Not
Riga
empty bits
small bows
|
IDS
944 |
 |
?
Crossed Keys
2 |
 |
blank |
probably Riga
|
IDS 971 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank
|
True
Riga (flax) |
IDS
1004 |
 |
X
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Not Riga |
IDS 1018 |
 |
+ crossed keys 1 |
no photo |
blank |
True Riga (flax) |
IDS 1036 |
 |
+ crossed keys 1 |
 |
blank |
True
Riga (flax) |
IDS 1076 |
 |
X crossed keys
B
1 |
no photo |
blank |
Not
Riga
B is Badstuben (flax) |
B = Badstuben, a type of THREEBAND (Drujaner
& Coupland flax) 1st sort |
IDS 1087 |
 |
+
crossed keys
2 |
 |
blank |
True
Riga (flax) |
IDS 1091 |
 |
+
crossed keys
1 |
 |
blank |
True
Riga (flax) |
IDS 1095 |
 |
X
crossed keys
2 |
no photo |
blank |
Not
Riga (flax) |
IDS 1223 |
 |
+
crossed keys
1 |
 |
blank |
True
Riga (flax) |
IDS 1233 |
 |
X
crossed keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Not
Riga (flax) |
IDS 1260 |
 |
X
crossed keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Not
Riga (flax) |
IDS
1310 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
no photo |
blank |
True Riga
1st grade
(flax) |
IDS
1320 |
 |
R I G A
Crossed Keys |
 |
blank |
Riga probably
Merchant |
IDS
1334 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
2 |
 |
blank |
True Riga
2nd grade
(flax) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
More Seals |
# |
OBVERSE click
thumbnail |
REVERSE click
thumbnail |
Notes |
IDS
256 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
True Riga |
|
IDS
257 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
3 |
 |
blank |
Riga ? |
IDS
258 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys 1 |
 |
blank |
True Riga |
IDS
264 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys |
 |
blank |
Not a Bulla English City Cloth seal |
IDS
265 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
2 |
 |
blank |
Doubtful Riga |
IDS
266 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Riga ?? |
IDS
559 |
 |
x
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Riga ?? |
IDS 626 |
 |
+ Crossed Keys 1 |
 |
blank |
Riga ?? |
IDS 634 |
 |
+ Crossed Keys 1 |
 |
blank |
True Riga (1st
grade flax) |
IDS 1191 |
 |
ф (F) or distorted
+
crossed keys
no grading number |
no photo |
blank |
probably Merchant seal |
IDS 1191
the jagged line motif may be a flowerless flax stem ..
ф (F) may be a symbol for flax |
IDS 1192 |
 |
+
crossed keys
2 |
 |
blank |
True
Riga (2nd grade flax) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
More Seals |
# |
OBVERSE click
thumbnail |
REVERSE click
thumbnail |
Notes |
IDS
268 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
True Riga
PAS SUR
-8DA072 |

A crossed keys seal in the British
Museum
brought to our attention
by Stuart F Elton.
This is not a
bulla flax seal but a rivet type
cloth bale seal. |
IDS
272 |
 |
x
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Not Riga
PAS
BERK
-279765 |
IDS
273 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Riga
PAS leic
-a08606 |
IDS
274 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
2 |
 |
blank |
Riga
PAS SWYOR
-
B9EDC4 |
IDS
279 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Riga
PAS YORYM
- EC5B75 |
IDS
560 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Riga
PAS SWYOR
-95DSB2 |
IDS
733 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Riga
PAS SWYOR
-F5EA7C |
IDS 1096 |
 |
+
crossed keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Riga
PAS - North Wales (flax) |
IDS
1308 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
2 |
 |
blank |
Riga
PAS SUR-75FDE1 |
IDS
1320 |
 |
R I G A
Crossed Keys |
 |
blank |
Riga
probably
Merchant seal |
IDS
1397 |
|
+
Crossed Keys
2 |
 |
blank |
Riga
2nd grade
(flax) |
IDS
1399 |
|
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Riga
1st grade
(flax) |
IDS
1 400 |
|
+
Crossed Keys
2 |
 |
blank |
Riga
2nd grade
(flax) |
IDS
1 401 |
|
+
Crossed Keys
2 |
 |
blank |
Riga
2nd grade
(flax) |
IDS
1 402 |
|
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Riga
1st grade
(flax) |
IDS
1 404 |
|
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Riga
1st grade
(flax) |
IDS
1 405 |
|
+
Crossed Keys
2 |
 |
blank |
Riga
2nd grade
(flax) |
IDS
1 411 |
|
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Riga
1st grade
(flax) |
IDS
1 414 |
|
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Riga
1st grade
(flax) |
IDS
1 452 |
|
X
Crossed Keys (no grade number) |
 |
usually
blank CO |
Not Riga |
IDS
1 454 |
|
+
Crossed Keys 3 |
 |
blank |
Riga
3rd Grade
(flax) |
IDS
1 464 |
|
+
Crossed Keys 1 |
 |
blank |
Riga
(1st Grade flax) |
IDS
1 465 |
|
+
Crossed Keys
2 |
 |
blank with scratches |
Riga
(2nd Grade flax) |
IDS
1 484 |
|
X
Crossed Keys 1 |
 |
blank |
Not Riga
(1st Grade flax) |
IDS
1 485 |
|
X
Crossed Keys 1 |
 |
blank |
Not Riga
(1st Grade flax) |
IDS
1 503 |
|
+
Crossed Keys 1 |
 |
blank |
True Riga
(1st Grade flax) |
IDS
1 565 |
|
X
Crossed Keys 3 |
 |
blank |
Not Riga
(3rd Grade flax) |
IDS
1 589 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
2 |
 |
blank |
True Riga
(2nd Grade flax) |
IDS
1 590 |
|
X
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Not Riga
(1st Grade flax) |
IDS
1 595 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys (1,2 or 3) |
 |
blank |
Riga
(? Grade flax) |
IDS
1 596 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys ? (1,2 or 3) |
 |
blank |
True Riga
(? Grade flax) |
IDS
1609 |
 |
x
Crossed Keys |
 |
blank |
Cloth
seal
perhaps Balsam. |
IDS
1613 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys 1 |
 |
blank |
Riga ?
(1st Grade flax) |
IDS
1614 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys 1 |
 |
blank |
True Riga
(1st Grade flax) |
IDS
1615 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys 1 |
 |
blank |
True Riga
(1st Grade flax) |
IDS
1616 |
 |
X
Crossed Keys 2 |
 |
blank |
Not
Riga
(2nd Grade flax) |
IDS
1623 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys 1 |
 |
blank |
Riga
(1st Grade flax) |
IDS
1631 |
 |
X
Crossed Keys
(B badstuben)
2 |
 |
blank |
Not Riga
(2nd Grade flax) |
IDS
1668 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys 2 |
 |
blank |
True Riga
(2nd Grade flax) |
IDS
1689 |
 |
X
Crossed Keys no grade number |
 |
blank with scratches |
not Riga
 |
IDS
1694 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys 1 |
 |
blank |
Riga
(1st grade flax) |
IDS 1705 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys 1 |
 |
blank |
Riga
(1st Grade flax) |
IDS 1768 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys 2 |
 |
blank |
Riga
(2nd Grade flax) |
IDS 1796 |
 |
X crossed keys 1 |
 |
PSt
Port St Petersburg |
Not Riga
(1st Grade flax)
|
IDS 1818 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys 2
|
 |
blank
|
Riga (2nd
Grade flax) |
IDS
1853
|

|
x
Crossed
Keys
3
|

|
usually blank (unknown
letters)
|
Not Riga
(3rd grade flax)
|
IDS
1855
|

|
+
Crossed
Keys
1
|

|
usually blank
|
Riga
(1st grade flax)
|
IDS
1905
|

|
+
Crossed
Keys
1
|

|
usually blank
|
Riga
(1st grade flax)
|
IDS
1953 |
|
X
Crossed Keys 2 |
 |
blank |
Not Riga
(2nd Grade flax) |
IDS
1974 |

|
X
Crossed
Keys
?
|

|
usually blank
|
Not Riga
|
IDS
1986 |
|
X
Crossed Keys 2 |
 |
blank |
Not Riga
(2nd Grade flax) |
IDS
2030 |
 |
R I G A
Crossed Keys |
 |
blank |
Riga probably
merchant seal |
IDS 2097 |
 |
X (non Riga)
crossed keys B (bracked 1807)
4 (four band) |
 |
blank |
non Riga Libau, Memel (flax) |
IDS 2099 |
 |
+ (Riga) crossed
keys
bows are missing
grading missing |
 |
blank |
Riga (flax) |
IDS 2100 |
 |
+ crossed
keys square filled bits
large round bows
grading number 1 |
no photo |
blank |
True Riga
(flax) |
IDS 2101 |
 |
+
crossed keys square filled bits
large round bows
grading number 1 |
no photo |
blank |
True Riga
(flax) |
IDS
2112 |
 |
+ crossed
keys square filled bits
large round bows
grading number 2 |
|
blank |
True Riga
(flax) |
IDS
2129 |
 |
X crossed
keys empty bits, small bows,
grade 1, B
= Badstuben
flax |
|
blank |
Baltic States Not Riga
(flax) |
IDS
2133 |
 |
X inside the
bits crossed
keys T / W.
TAMOЖHЯ
/
WRACK Tax Paid Bracked Flax |
|
blank |
Baltic States Not Riga
(flax) |
X inside the
bits of crossed
keys with small oval bows and T / W.
T is
TAMOЖHЯ / W is
WRACK
.. Customs
Tax Paid Bracked Flax |
|
|
|
|
|
|
IDS
2141 |
 |
+ crossed
keys square + filled bits
large round bows
grading number 1 |
|
blank |
True Riga
(flax) |
IDS
2159 |
|
(x cross)
Crossed Keys
small bits and bows
no grade number |
 |
blank |
Baltic States Not Riga
(flax) |
IDS
2175 | >
|
(x cross)
Crossed Keys
small bits and bows
1st Sort |
 |
blank |
Not Riga
possibly Dutch
(flax) |
|
IDS 2175 was
found at Bo'ness in Falkirk. The town's flax trade went out of business
around 1850 because the town relied on Dutch imports of flax seed and flax
plants. Surrounding ports importing Russian flax thrived. This suggests
these false Riga seals may even be Dutch. The women in the town and
countryside earned their living by tambouring and spinning silk.
(https://www.electricscotland.com/history/boness/chapter19.htm) |
EGR
01 |
 |
+
orthodox cross crossed keys 2 second sort |
 |
blank |
True Riga
(flax) |
IDS
2178 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
F H |
 |
blank |
Riga letter graded
(Fein Heide) Fine Tow
|
IDS
2210 |
 |
X crossed
keys grade 2, B
= Badstuben
flax |
|
blank |
Baltic States Not Riga
(flax) |
IDS
2221 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
F H |
 |
blank |
Riga letter graded
(Fein Heide) Fine Tow
|
IDS
2227 |
 |
x
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
Riga (imitation) (flax) |
IDS
2239 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
2 |
 |
blank |
True Riga (flax) |
IDS
2240 |
 |
x
Crossed Keys
Ф (F) |
no photo
|
blank |
Imitation Riga (fine flax) |
IDS
2243 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
2 |
 |
blank |
True Riga (2nd
grade flax) |
IDS
2273 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
True Riga (1st
grade flax) |
IDS
2295 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
2 |
 |
blank |
True Riga (2nd
sort flax) |
IDS
2321 |
 |
X crossed
keys grade 3 B
= Badstuben
flax |
|
blank
(bag marks) |
Baltic States Drujaner and Coupland region
(flax) |
IDS
2323 |
 |
+ Riga crossed
keys thorny twigs no
grade number |
|
blank
(normal) |
Riga Black Balsam or UK cloth seal |
IDS
2325 |
 |
X crossed
keys grade 1 |
|
blank
(digging marks) |
Baltic States not Riga
(flax) |
IDS
2334 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
 |
blank |
True Riga (1st
grade flax) |
IDS
2336 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
2 |
 |
blank |
True Riga (2nd grade flax) |
Mark
07 |
|
X R crossed keys H 1 |
|
blank
(Rein Hemp) |
 |
Mark
13 |
|
X crossed keys 1 |
|
blank |
(flax) |
IDS
2348 |
 |
X crossed
keys empty bits, small bows,
grade 3, B
= Badstuben
flax |
|
blank |
Baltic States Not Riga
(flax) |
IDS
2355 |
 |
X crossed
keys empty bits, small
bows, grade 1 |
|
blank |
Baltic States Not Riga
(1st grade flax) |
IDS
2403 |
 |
X crossed
keys empty bits, small bows no grading number |
|
8 |
Not Riga
doubtful Russian may be flour seal |
IDS
2414
|

|
X crossed
keys empty bits, small bows no grading number
|

|
blank
|
not Riga |
IDS
2427
|

|
X (not Riga) Crossed keys B (Badstuben) 3 (grade)
|

|
blank
|
not Riga
Drujaner & Coupland regions. (flax) |
IDS 2450 |
 |
+ (Orthodox Cross) crossed keys with full bits & large bows, 1 (1st grade) |
 |
blank (as normal)
|
True Riga 1st grade (flax) |
IDS 2461 |
 |
X
(Saltire Cross) crossed keys
with empty bits & small bows, 1 (1st grade) |
 |
blank (as normal)
|
Not
Riga 1st grade (flax) |
IDS
2519 |
 |
X crossed keys
(no grade
number)
|
 |
blank (as normal)
|
Not Riga (no flax grade) |
IDS
2553 |
 |
X crossed keys
(grade
number 2)
|
 |
blank (as normal)
|
Not Riga (2 flax grade) |
IDS
2557 |
 |
X crossed keys
(grade
number 1)
|
 |
blank |
Not Riga (1 flax grade) |
IDS
2570 |
 |
X crossed keys
(grade
number 1)
|
 |
blank (as normal)
|
Not Riga (1st grade
flax) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aberdeen |
ABD 019 |
no photo |
+ crossed keys 1 |
no photo |
blank |
Riga
(1st Grade flax) |
ABD019 19 ABDMS:
072697 |
ABD 020 |
no photo |
+ crossed keys 1 |
no photo |
blank |
Riga
(1st Grade flax) |
ABD020 20 ABDMS:
072698 |
ABD 021 |
no photo |
+ crossed keys 1 |
no photo |
blank |
Riga
(1st Grade flax) |
ABD021 21 ABDMS: 072699 |
IDS 2106 |
 |
Ornate cross +
crossed keys
filled bits/fancy stems
large round bows |
 |
blank |
Riga (flax) |
IDS 2106 : (Ian Thomson) Belhelvie - early
18th Century |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Perth Museum |
PER 02 |
no photo |
+ crossed keys 3 grade |
no photo |
blank |
Perth Museum 2 PERMG:1979.1244 |
PER 07 |
no photo |
+ crossed keys 1 grade |
no photo |
blank |
Perth Museum 7 PERMG:1992.140.5 |
PER
10 |
no photo |
+ crossed keys 3 grade |
no photo |
blank |
Perth Museum 10 PERMG:2000.243.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ident Service for UK Detector
Finds Database (UKDFD) |
# |
OBVERSE click
thumbnail |
REVERSE
click
thumbnail |
Notes |
IDS
250 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
- |
 |
blank
|
Not Riga
UKDFD 17533 |

Riga Harbour in the 19th Century |
IDS
251 |
 |
x
Crossed Keys
2 |
 |
blank
|
Not Riga
UKDFD 38104 |
IDS
252 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
- |
blank |
blank |
Riga
UKDFD 9415 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cross Key Seals in
John Sullivan's book |
# |
OBVERSE click
thumbnail |
REVERSE click
thumbnail |
Notes |
JS01 |
 |
1893+
Crossed Keys БE ПPABA
(BE PRAVA) |
PИЖCKИИ ЧEPHЫИ
БAЛЬЗAMЪ
RIGA BLACK BALSAM
(BE PRAVA = WAS CORRECT)
26 ADMUS: M1998.94
|

ISBN 978
1 86217 465 4
|
JS02 |
 |
x
Crossed Keys
? |
 |
44 band pass hemp |
Not Riga
87 GGD 01 |
JS03 |
 |
+
Crossed Keys
1 |
blank |
blank |
Riga
1 ADMUS: M1988.287 |
JS04
|
 |
+
Crossed Keys
2 |
blank |
blank |
Riga
17 WE 08 |
JS05
|
 |
+
Crossed Keys
3 |
blank |
blank |
Riga
10 PERMG: 2000.243.9 |
DUN
015
|
no photo |
+
Crossed Keys
2 |
no photo |
blank |
Riga 15 DUN:
1999.21(6) |
FAL 18 |
no photo
|
+ crossed keys 1 |
no photo
|
blank |
Falkirk 18 FALKM: 2003.3.4
|
FAL 19 |
no photo
|
+ crossed keys 1 |
no photo
|
blank |
Falkirk 19 FALKM: 2003.3.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|