Riga Crossed Keys Flax Seal Database

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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.

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Click Here for more Riga History and Tax Seals

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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* L01		x crossed keys 1		usually blank	not Riga
*Riga* L02		x crossed keys 1		usually blank	not Riga
*Riga* L03		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* Kn02		+ crossed keys -		usually blank	herbal Black Balsam or city cloth seal
*Riga* Kn03		+ crossed keys -		usually blank	Not Riga empty bits small bows
*Riga* Kn04		+ crossed keys -		usually blank	True Riga
*Riga* Kn05		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 X01		+ crossed keys 2		blank	True Riga
Arb X02		+ 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 1400		+ Crossed Keys 2		blank	Riga 2nd grade (flax)
IDS 1401		+ Crossed Keys 2		blank	Riga 2nd grade (flax)
IDS 1402		+ Crossed Keys 1		blank	Riga 1st grade (flax)
IDS 1404		+ Crossed Keys 1		blank	Riga 1st grade (flax)
IDS 1405		+ Crossed Keys 2		blank	Riga 2nd grade (flax)
IDS 1411		+ Crossed Keys 1		blank	Riga 1st grade (flax)
IDS 1414		+ Crossed Keys 1		blank	Riga 1st grade (flax)
IDS 1452		X Crossed Keys (no grade number)		usually blank CO	Not Riga
IDS 1454		+ Crossed Keys 3		blank	Riga 3rd Grade (flax)
IDS 1464		+ Crossed Keys 1		blank	Riga (1st Grade flax)
IDS 1465		+ Crossed Keys 2		blank with scratches	Riga (2nd Grade flax)
IDS 1484		X Crossed Keys 1		blank	Not Riga (1st Grade flax)
IDS 1485		X Crossed Keys 1		blank	Not Riga (1st Grade flax)
IDS 1503		+ Crossed Keys 1		blank	True Riga (1st Grade flax)
IDS 1565		X Crossed Keys 3		blank	Not Riga (3rd Grade flax)
IDS 1589		+ Crossed Keys 2		blank	True Riga (2nd Grade flax)
IDS 1590		X Crossed Keys 1		blank	Not Riga (1st Grade flax)
IDS 1595		+ Crossed Keys (1,2 or 3)		blank	Riga (? Grade flax)
IDS 1596		+ 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 ?		4 4 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