World's Largest Russian Lead Hemp Bale Seal Collection

    Both flax and hemp were major agricultural crops in post medieval Russia. Hemp was grown in the south, and flax in the north. Encyclopaedia Britannica says one of the major exports of the English Muscovy Company (founded in the second half of the 16th century) was hemp.
     According to many textile sources, the archaeological record of hemp and nettle fabric is confused by the fact that archaeologists, not being able to tell hemp, nettle and flax cloth apart without chemical testing, use the term 'linen' to refer to any fabric spun and woven from vegetable fibres. (Apparently, however, Czech archaeologists call all such fabrics 'hemp'). In old paintings it is not possible to distinguish linen from hemp or nettle cloth.
     Both hemp and nettle have been used to make fabric since prehistoric times, as alternatives to flax, and processed similarly to flax. Hemp, with its fibres up to 12 feet long, produces a stronger thread than flax; and nettle produces a somewhat "finer and silkier" fabric than flax.
     Hemp can be either wet retted, by immersion in water such as a pond or stream, or dew retted, by laying in the fields. Once the fibre bundles appear white, they separate from the woody core, and divide easily into individual, finer fibres for their full length. When retting is complete the stems are dried, then broken with a 'breaker'. The fibres are separated using processes known as 'Scutching' (beating), then hanckled (combed) for spinning. Much like flax.
     While hemp can be harvested for either the fibre or the seeds, it appears that hemp for fibre needs to be harvested before it goes to seed; so different plots would be allocated for fibre production than for seed. The centuries-old method of hemp textile production involves . . . Harvesting after flowering but before the seeds set, when the stems are whitening at the base and the leaves are starting to drop. The fibre content is reduced and becomes coarser toward seed formation. Where it is desired to obtain fibre and seed the male plants are first collected by hand pulling, and the female plants are left to enable the seeds to ripen. There are lots more on hemp facts at the bottom of this page ...

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Russian Hemp Bale Seals Identified

The earliest known Russian Rein Hemp Bale Seal

IDS

1112

ЧИСТА (clean)
R
(Rein Hemp)

(crown)

No 1

1733
SPB

Crown Grade
No 1 Sort
1733
(Hemp)

Deciphering RH Rein Hemp Seals 1737 - 1747.
The earliest dated lead seals are hemp seals with SPB, RH and a date.
RH meaning Rein (Rhine) Hemp and not the usual inspector initials.
(Rare seals with AH are thought to be Archangel seals.)

obverse
SPB
R:H
1747

SPB = Used for hemp seals by all ports.
R:H = REIN (RHINE) HEMP.
1747 = the date of inspection.

On paper .. MR = Marienburg Rakitzer is used

for Rhine Hemp but it is not on the lead seals

reverse
always
blank

THE REVERSE IS ALWAYS BLANK

However there can be elaborate shapes in the form
of ornate C or y shapes (not letters) to either side
of the initials RH on the obverse above the date.

Notes:- variations are numerous.

SPB R 1733 SPB RH 1737 SPB RH 1739 SPB RH 1741 SPB RH 1741 SPB RH 1741

SPB RH 1744 SPB RH 1746 SPB RH 17467

R (chista) clean HEMP SEALS ARE FROM 1733
RH REIN HEMP SEALS ARE FROM 1737 - 1747

From our academic researcher Paul Cannon ..

Here is a contemporary reference to what is probably a lead seal attached to hemp.

It is from 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. 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 Baraak 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 close to the earliest dated seal so far recovered of 1737 for St Petersburg.

Riga is specifically referred to and I wonder if they are the plain crossed keys type.

If so, then some of these at least, 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 ...and all known hemp seals carry the notation SPB or CПБ meaning

St Petersburg .. but I believed this notation was a State Controlled Area used for all

hemp bales regardless of the port of dispatch .. which may have been via Konigsberg,

Kronstadt, Libnau, Memel, Narva, Pernau, Reval, Riga, St Petersburg, or Tilsit.

- - - - - - - - - - -

The following is another contemporary reference to the sealing of hemp from Paul Cannon.

Under ‘Hemp’ in Cyclopaedia of Useful Arts and Manufactures, Charles Tomlinson (1854)

[see https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433087555417;view=1up;seq=42 p15]
is the following: “……… and the work of sorting it into qualities and making it up into

bundles is performed by sworn agents called brackers, and by binders appointed by the government. To every bundle of hemp thus assorted there is attached a ticket with the

names of the selector, binder and owner, and the date and year. Every bundle has also a

lead seal affixed to it, on which is stamped the selector’s name on one side, and the sort

of hemp and the time of selection on the other.”
From the above reference Tomlinson seems to be suggesting that by 1854, the bundles

were labelled in two ways at the same time with:
1. a ticket with the names of the selector, binder and owner, and the date and year and
2. a lead sealaffixed to it, on which is stamped the selector’s name on one side, and the

sort of hemp and the time of selection on the other.
What the ‘ticket’ was made of is not recorded but I am reminded of another contemporary reference of 1805,

which recorded the use of a ‘wooden tally’ inside hemp bales. See http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=gJ8TAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA140&lpg=PA140&dq=

rakitzer&source=bl&ots=L-hYsst8dF&sig=jYIgQSGAOspXcPj5_4znTyHcdHk&hl=

en&sa=X&ei=F-tXVLajMcHH7AbOzoDQCw&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=tally&f=false
The footnote at the bottom of page 195 records “*Some articles are stamped;

for instance, the casks with Tallow and Oil; Flax with a lead tally annexed by a string;

Hemp in the inside of the bales by a wooden tally, with the bracker’s name thereon.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Ged Dodd adds that

only Archangel continued to brack the hemp with lead seals after the 1830's as

faith in the quality of the hemp from the Baltic ports collapsed after frequent

complaints by merchants.   Wooden tallies have yet to be found in the UK ..

Russian Flax Exports in tons

Russian Hemp Exports in tons

Date

St.SB

Riga

Flax seals

before 1829

are stamped

NP, WK, WU

regardless of

port of export

Date

St.PB

Riga

Hemp seals

from 1740

to 1828 are

SPB, SP

regardless of

port of export

1825

7,324

23,701

1825

32,367

11,828

1826

7,432

23,383

1826

29,339

10,415

1827

11,192

24,758

1827

30,397

11,587

1828

10,884

21,377

1828

29,157

11,156

1829 6,685 24,394 All flax seals
from 1829
are stamped
SPB or CПБ
regardless of
port of export 1829 16,387 10,487
Hemp seals

from 1829 are

H._1, ПEH.1, 2, 3

or PiLPD's

1830 9,365 19,807 1830 21,673 12,360

1831 4,774 18,195 1831 24,678 11,833

1832 8,472 20,533 1832 29,136 13,838

1833 5,589 25,474 1833 31,582 11,797

It is obvious from the tables that St Petersburg exported more hemp than flax and by the

same token Riga exported more flax than hemp .. giving StPB the major role for hemp.



Deciphering SPB Hemp Seals 1740 - 1828 .. example
SPB = state control used for all hemp seals at all ports until 1828
after which the labelling of hemp seals was restricted to a very few
  ПИЛПД= PiLPD type seals 1829 -1840
SPB was used by Non-Russian traders and CПБ by Russian traders.

obverse
ПД
И.ШEP
AПOBЬ
H31

(Hemp Seals must be ПД = PD not ЛД = LD)

ПД = PD = Penkovy Dosmotr = Hemp Inspector
И.ШEP = I.SHER (first part of the name).
AПOBЬ = APOV (second part of the name).

total name I.SHERAPOV (Ь is end of name).
  H31 = N31 = the post number.

reverse
SPB
АЧРН
1818

SPB = Used for all hemp until 1828 by all ports.

АЧ = initials of the previous Grower/Owner/Agent

РН = Pass Hemp (or Puik Heide, Picked Tow)

1818 = date of inspection, grading or "brack".

Notes:- variations (SPB also shortened to SP in rare cases)

      SPB HEMP SEALS ARE ON ALL SITES UP TO 1828 .. .

Deciphering CПБ Hemp Seals 1829 - 1850 .. example
CПБ = state control used for all hemp seals at all ports from 1829
   ПД = Penkovy Dosmotr = Hemp Inspector with grading as ПEH.1, 2, 3 grade hemp..
   or ПИЛПД = PiLPD = Hemp and Flax Dockside Inspector with a grading such
as ЛЗ2H (LZ2H) where LZ are the Agents initials and 2H is 2nd Sort Tow (Heide).

obverse
ПД
П:CO
MOBЪ
N6

Hemp must be ПД = PD or ПИЛПД = PiLPD

ПД = PD = Penkovy Dosmotr = Hemp Inspector
П:CO = P.SO (first part of the name).
MOBЪ = MOV (second part of the name).

total name P.SOMOV (Ь is end of name).
  N6 = N6 = the post number.

reverse
CПБ
ПEH.1
ГБ
1834

CПБ = Used for all hemp from 1829 by all ports.

ПEH.1 = PEN.1 = Grade 1 Hemp.

ГБ (GB) = initials of previous Grower/Owner/Agent

1834 = date of inspection, grading or "brack".

Notes:- variations are numerous.

ПД (PD with) ПEH.1,2,3     ПД (PD with) ПEH.1,2,3        ПИЛПД 1, 2, 3 grade Tow

Later hemp seals have ПД = hemp inspector or ДП on rare occasions.

"Ged's Hemp Seal Rules"

For seals having ПД = PD = hemp inspection on the obverse.

ПД = PD could also mean Portovy Dosmotr (Dockside Inspection) but it can only mean

Hemp Inspection when it appears in the form of the rule 5 examples shown below

and besides that all PD (Dockside Inspection) seals are proving to be hemp seals.

Rule 1) For ПД = PD to be Penkovy Dosmotr (Hemp Inspection) on the obverse of

these lead hemp seals it must have a four letter hemp designation on the reverse..

SPB hemp seals have ПД = hemp inspector .. their name .. and post number with
SPB (St Petersburg) .. Grower/Owner/Agent initials (AK) and RH (Rein Hemp) and date.

IDS

10

ПД = PD
T.KOЛПAKOB
(T.KOLPAKOV)
H30

SPB

AKRH

1799

30
post
(Rein Hemp)

There are many examples of SPB Rein hemp seal with ПД = hemp inspector
(some ДA, ДB, ДИ, ДII, ДM are also hemp seals ... and also flax seals).

AЧRH, AГRH, AKRH, BKRH, BORH, CCRH, CHRH, CKFRH, CУRH, CZRH, DHRH,
?CRH, ECRH, ERRH, FKRH, FMRH, FWRH, GKRH, HCRH, HЧRH, HHRH,
HPRH, H-PRH, HSRH, HШRH, IBRH, ICRH, ICZRH, IHRH, IMRH, IPRH,
IRRH, ISRH, ИЧRH, KGRH, MMRH, PBRH, PFRH, PMRH, ПSRH, RH, TBRH,
TKRH, TLRH, TNRH, ?FRH, ?GRH, ?HRH, ?MRH, ?ORH, ?SRH

PH is Pass Hemp ... very short hemp but clean and free of woody particles
AЧPH, AHPH, AШPH, CFPH, CHPH, CIFPH, ECPH, EKPH, FWPH, HKPH,
HПPH, HШPH, IHPH, IWPH, JHPH, KKPH, LGKPH, NKPH, ?WPH,

Some hemp seals have initial combinations other than those ending in RH (Rein Hemp)

AKA?, ANRHC, ANRA, ARHN, BHAO, BKAH, CЧPI, ДШIH, ГБ.IH, ГФKH,
HCRI, ICZAH, IBIH, IK:IH, IKIИ, IMAH, IMБR, IOБHH, ISAH, ЛЗIH, MCEI,
MPAH, ПШIH, ПWAH, PKIN, SPHB, SRHB, TBIH, TBIN, THAH, TLAH,
TNAH, ?ШAH, WSAH, ?MZIR

Hemp seals with (LC, LZ) ЛЗIH, ЛЗ2H, ЛЗ3H could be
Lihuanian Czuken which is as Rein Hemp but less oily and soft.

Rule 2) For ПД = PD to be Penkovy Dosmotr (Hemp Inspection) on the obverse of the

lead hemp seals it must be confirmed with a grading of H._1, H._2, H._3, first, second

and third grade hemp on the reverse of the seal above the Grower/Owner/Agent initials.
Note: H._1, H._2, H._3 with SPB are all hemp seals
but similar looking HoП._1, HoП._2, HoП._3, with CПБ or SPB are all flax seals

IDS

28

ПД = PD
И.M.BAУЛИHЪ
(I.M.VAULIN)
H21

SPB

H._2

I.H

1833

21
post
(hemp)

IDS

136

ПД = PD
Л.CИЗA?EBЬ
(L.SIZA?EV)
H85

SPB

H._1

I.S.

1838

85
post
(hemp)

Rule 3) Every SPB seal with a * (instead of post number) is a Hemp Seal

1811

w10

ПД = PD
H.CEЛИHЬ
(N.SELIN)
*

SPB
ДШ1H
1811

* post
1st grade or sort
(hemp)

see also Rule 4

Rule 4) For ПД = PD to be Penkovy Dosmotr (Hemp Inspection) on the obverse

of SPB lead hemp seals it must be confirmed with two letters, a single number 1,2 or 3

and a final letter (usually N) on the reverse. (Numbers 6, 9, 12 refer to flax seals)

SPB hemp seals with ПД = hemp inspector ..their name .. and post number with
SPB (St Petersburg) / Grower/Owner/Agent initials (EB) ..1N = 1st sort / date.

IDS

196

ПД=PD

E.CBИHЬИH

(E.SVIN'IN)

H??

SPB
EB1N
1798

IN is number 1
1st grade or sort

  Rule 5)
Deciphering PiLPD Hemp Seals 1829 - 1841.
  PiLPD (ПИЛПД) seals were introduced in 1829 to cater for hemp
as the vast majority of SPB and CПБ seals after 1829 are flax.
All the PiLPD (ПИЛПД) SPB and CПБ seals are hemp.
PiLPD (ПИЛПД) = Penkovy i L'nyanoy Portovy Dosmotr
= Hemp and Flax Port Inspector or "Dockside Inspectors."

IDS

1258

ПИЛПД (PiLPD)

М.КАЛТУШКИ
(M.KALTUSHKIN)
Ho 2

СПБ
Л.З.1.Н
1837

85 CUPMS:1999.53.18
N.E.Fife
(hemp)

IDS

1259

ПИЛПД (PiLPD)

Н.СЕЛИНЪ
(N.SELIN)
Ho 1

СПБ
П.Ш 2.Н
1832

204 CUPMS:1999.56.8
N.E.Fife
(hemp)

obverse
ПИЛПД
П.KAЛT
УШKИH
H9

ПИЛПД = PiLPD =

Hemp and Flax Port Dockside Inspector
П.KAЛT = P.KALT (first line of name)

УШKИH = USHKIN (second line of name)

total name = P.KALTUSHKIN

H9 = N9 = post number

reverse
CПБ
ЛЗ2H
1833

CПБ = and SPB used with PiLPD by all ports.
ЛЗ (LZ) = initials of the previous Grower/Owner/Agent

2Н = 2nd Sort Tow (Heide)

1833 = date of inspection, grading or "brack".

reverse
SPB
ЛЗ1H
1819

SPB = and CПБ used with PiLPD by all ports.
ЛЗ (LZ) = initials of the previous Grower/Owner/Agent

1Н = 1st Sort Tow (Heide)

1819 = date of inspection, grading or "brack".

Known PiLPD Seals

initial

reference number

date

location

initials

inspector

#

grade

area

FK 282 JS193 1839 JS PiLPD M.Kaltushkin 2 FK2H SPB (hemp)

FK 9 FALKM 2002.43.03 1833 Falkirk PiLPD P.Kaltushkin 3 FK2H SPB (hemp)

FK 8 FALKM 2002.43.02 1833 Falkirk PiLPD P.Kaltushkin 9 FK2H SPB (hemp)

FK

49 CUPMS: 1999.52.32

1833

NE Fife Mus

PLPD

N.Selin

1

FK2H

SPB (hemp)

ICB 205 CUPMS 1999.56.9 1831 NE Fife Mus PiLPD M.Kaltushkin 2 ICBN2 SPB

ICB 48 CUPMS 1999.52.31 1836 NE Fife Mus PiLPD P.Kaltushkin 3 ICBN2 SPB

ICB 52 CUPMS 1999.52.35 1839 NE Fife Mus PiLPD P.Kaltushkin 3 ICBN2 SPB

ICB

89 CUPMS: 1999.53.22

1833

NE Fife Mus

PiLPD

P.Kaltushkin

3

ICBN2

CПБ

ICB

141 CUPMS 1999.54.32

183-

NE Fife Mus

PiLPD

P.Kaltushkin

3

ICBN2

SPB

ICB

28 DUN:AH 2005-16.10

1831

Dundee

PiLPD

F.Sukhorukov

6

ICBN2

SPB

ICB

8 LCM: 90.36/12

1836

Lancaster

PiLPD

F.Sukhorukov

6

ICBN2

SPB

ЛЗ

221 CUPMS 1999.57.6

1831

NE Fife Mus

PiLPD

R.Shustov

5

ЛЗ2H

CПБ (hemp)

ЛЗ

50 CUPMS: 1999.52.33

1832

NE Fife Mus

PLPD

?.Selin

1

ЛЗ2H

CПБ (hemp)

ЛЗ

85 CUPMS 1999.53.18

1831

NE.Fife

PiLPD

M.Kaltushkin

2

ЛЗ1H

CПБ (hemp)

ЛЗ

IDS589

1833

Durham

PiLPD

P.Kaltushkin

9

ЛЗ2H

CПБ (hemp)

ЛЗ

30 DUN:AHH2005-16.12

1831

Dundee

PiLPD

F.Sukhorukov

6

ЛЗ2H

CПБ (hemp)

ПШ

1829 KH01

1829

Kinghorn

PiLPD

?.Kaltushkin

??

ПШ2H

SPB (hemp)

ПШ

84 CUPMS: 1999.53.17

1833

NE Fife Mus

PiLPD

V.Gorbunov

4

ПШ2H

SPB (hemp)

ПШ

86 CUPMS: 1999.53.19

1833

NE Fife Mus

PiLPD

P.Kaltushkin

9

ПШ2H

CПБ (hemp)

ПШ

51 CUPMS: 1999.52.34

1841

NE Fife Mus

PiLPD

I.Sheravskoi

3

ПШ2H

CПБ (hemp)

ПШ

204 CUPMS 1999.56.8

1832

NE Fife Mus

PLPD

N.Selin

1

ПШ2H

CПБ (hemp)

ПШ

IDS 1064

1835

Springfield

PiLPD

P.Shustov

5

ПШ2H

CПБ (hemp)

ПШ

143 CUPMS 1999.54.34

1835

NE Fife Mus

PiLPD

F.Sukhorukov

6

ПШ2H

SPB (hemp)

?H

87 CUPMS: 1999.53.20

1838

NE Fife Mus

PiLPD

D.Selin

9

?H2H

SPB (hemp)

Hemp seals from Archangel

blank

SPB
A:H
1745

IDS

898

SPB on seals before 1829 indicates Hemp .. A:H is probably Archangel Hemp

A П
CTEПAHOVЬ
(Archangel Port)
(STEPANOV)

APX ПOP
ПEHK:БPA
2 ГЛ P
1813

Archangel Port
PENK:BRA
2 GL R
1813

Guilford Museum 2 GLMD:29.02   -    PENK:BRA hemp inspection bracked

All the Bushev family were hemp inspectors from 1770 - 1834

Bushev (hemp)	#171	Essex ECRH	IDS480	1770
Bushev (hemp)	#27	eBay PBRH	IDS220	1783
Bushev.M (hemp)	#23	4 NLA (HER) 26398	?SRH	1797
Bushev.I.D (hemp)	#72	45 JC 02	ИФAH	1816
Bushev.I.M (hemp)	#31	39 AJPC 07	IMBR	182-
Bushev.I.M (hemp)	#314	3 NML. 2007.21.3	FWRH	1826
Bushev.I.M (hemp)	#67	PAS LIN-7BBEB5 H2	IDS494	1834
Bushev.K.D (hemp)	#179	Powerpoint, Bridport	IDS1088	1822
Bushev.I.V is a typo in Doctor John Sullivan's book for Bushev.I.M at #314

---------------------------------------------------------------------

More Economic Facts on Hemp c.1800

Hemp formed an important article of export from St Petersburg and was sorted into ..

     1) Clean Hemp or First Sort

     2) Out Shot Hemp or Second Sort

     3) Half Clean Hemp or Third Sort

     and Hemp Codilla ...
Of the three sorts there was exported from St Petersburg annually two millions poods (32,00 tons)

the greatest part of which was shipped in English and American Vessels
Hemp was brought` to the market of St Petersburg from the inside of Russia beyond Moscow by water by the means of the junction of different rivers and canals and the quality of the hemp depends very much on the country in which it is produced. Hemp brought` from Karatshev is the best and next to this is that produced in Belev but the hemp from Gshatsk is considered inferior.

As soon as the hemp is brought` down in the Spring or during the Summer it is immediately selected and made up in bundles which operations are sworn performed by selectors and binders (inspectors) appointed by the government for this purpose and it is a well known fact that this is done with great impartiality and exactness.

A bundle of clean hemp weighs from 55 to 65 poods, a bundle of Out Shot 48 to 55 poods, a bundle of half clean hemp weighs from 40 to 45 poods. Binding of hemp is paid for at the rate of 2 rubles and 50 copecs for clean, 3 rubles for out shot, and 1 ruble 50 copecs for half clean hemp per bundle, one half of which is paid by the seller and the other half by the purchaser .. charged by their agents.

The expense of selecting hemp is fifty copecs per bercovitz (10 poods) and is the same for all sorts. To every bundle of assorted hemp is attached a ticket with the names of the selector binder and owner together with the date and year.. Also to every bundle (bale) is affixed a piece of lead stamped on one side with the name of the selector (inspector) and on the other the sort of hemp and when selected.

Ref

IDS

10

ПД = PD
T.KOЛПAKOB
(T.KOLPAKOV)
H30

SPB

AKRH

1799

30
post

    The external marks of good hemp are its being of an equal green colour and free from spills but its good quality is proved by the strength of the fibre which should be fine thin and long.

    The First Sort must therefore be quite clean and free from spills, the Out Shot hemp is less so and the Half Clean hemp contains a still greater portion of spills and is of mixed qualities and colours.

     As a perfect knowledge of the qualities of hemp and flax can only be acquired by experience and attention agents usually employ men constantly occupied in this business by which means they are sure of getting goods of the best quality and thereby giving satisfaction to their principals because although the hemp is selected by sworn selectors yet the quantity of business and the speed with which it must be executed often cause a great difference in the same sort .

The charges are consequently somewhat more but these are trifling in comparison to the advantage.

What is picked out in cleansing hemp is called Hemp Codilla and this is generally made up in small bundles of one pood which before shipping are bound together in one large bundle consisting of about thirty small ones.

   In shipping hemp and flax particular care must be taken to do it in fine and dry weather as wet hemp would soon heat up and consequently be totally spoiled. For this reason every vessel taking in hemp or flax is furnished with mats to prevent its getting damp and these are generally procured by and for the account of the captain. Hemp being light and bulky, when stowed, is forced into the vessel by means of winches which renders the operation of loading hemp rather slow.

   It may be taken as a general rule that the prices of hemp are highest in the months of May, June, July and even in the early part of August the demand for hemp article being then greatest and the exportation to North America being principally effected at this season.

   Again the prices of hemp are lowest in the month of
September the reason of which is that the less opulent hemp merchants return at the end of this month to their own country in order to make new purchases for the ensuing year and therefore willingly sell the remainder of their stock some Rubbles below the market prices. This causes a general decline although a particular demand for hemp happening at that time or some political events or even rumours may no doubt produce a contrary effect . Two large warehouses called Ambares were built in St Petersburg for the special purpose of housing hemp.   63 poods make an English Ton .. whereas 60 poods of hemp and 40 poods of codilla make a "last" in St Petersburg.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Trade with Scandinavia and the Baltic by Mike Patrick

Please note this article is primarily about the HEMP trade at Topsham near Exeter

and references in this article do NOT necessarily apply to the country as a whole.

The book “Around Topsham in Old Photographs” produced by Topsham Museum Society in 1990, included photographs of inscribed stones found at Rivers-meet, Topsham. One of them, located on the north shore of the River Clyst immediately outside the high wall, which encloses Rivers-meet, commemorates trade with the Baltic. It reads “1852 to 1861 SEVERAL CARGOES OF HEMP &c. FROM THE BALTIC DISCHARGED HERE   F.D.”

         Inscribed stone found at Riversmeet.

      The initials F.D. refer to Francis Davy (1810-96), the youngest son of Robert Davy, shipbuilder of Countess Wear, who like his father, was also an iron and hemp merchant. Francis Davy built Rivers-meet House having enclosed the marshy ground on which it was built. This brief article examines the extent of the Baltic Trade with the Exe estuary. In the second half of the seventeenth century development of a trade in plantation products saw the sending of Barbados sugar to Gothenburg while in the early 1700s, two shipments of serge to Drammen and mixed cloths to Gothenburg represented attempts to provide return cargoes for vessels bringing naval supplies from the Baltic. The development of a regular trade was discouraged by high Scandinavian duties on English cloth. Baltic ports are 1,000 miles or more from Exeter, and contacts only developed because of their virtual monopoly of European supplies of naval stores and coniferous timber. Trade was almost entirely one way. A few unsuccessful attempts were made to establish woollen markets in Danzig, Drammen, Gothenburg, Archangel and St. Petersburg, but normally ships from Scandinavia and the Baltic cleared from the Exe in ballast. The Baltic timber trade was well established by 1660, four vessels entering from Norway in 1663. Trade continued on this scale in the eighteenth century, with Drammen as the principal market. There were occasional imports of linen from Archangel and hemp from St Petersburg. An important element of the import trade was represented by raw materials for the building and fitting out of vessels. In the seventeenth century pitch and tar were received from Scandinavia and hemp and flax from the Low Countries. Direct contacts with Russia for the import of hemp and flax were established by 1715 and at the end of the century Topsham was receiving two shipments annually from St Petersburg. Russian hemp and tallow were re-exported to south coast ports including Portsmouth and Falmouth. The hemp import reached 5964 hundredweights in 1827 but later fell off with the decline in shipbuilding. After 1815 Topsham began to import pitch and tar from Archangel, Riga, Stockholm and Gothenburg. During the eighteenth century bars of iron were occasionally received from Gothenburg, St Petersburg and other Baltic ports. Tallow came from St Petersburg and Archangel.

     Another inscribed stone from the north shore of the River Clyst, situated within the high wall, which encloses Riversmeet. The stone specifically commemorates trade with Russia. It reads “SEVERAL CARGOES OF HEMP & C FROM ST. PETERSBURG DISCHARGED HERE 1850 TO 1861”. At the time of the Napoleonic wars many overseas contacts were lost and the entrepot trade was reduced in scale. Important items at Topsham were naval stores from the Baltic (hemp, flax, pitch, tar and tallow) and the goods were distributed only to neighbouring ports. After 1815 the Baltic entrepot trade became for a time more prosperous. Messrs. Milford of Exeter could be described in 1823 as “the most considerable Importers of Russian produce between Portsmouth and Lands End”. Bonding privileges were extended to Topsham in 1842 and it became no longer necessary to send goods up to the bonded warehouses in Exeter. As the eighteenth century progressed the timber trade changed in character and Norway emerged as the chief source of supply. 1792 witnessed the receipt in Topsham of eight timber shipments from Christiana, Frederickstad, Langesund and Porsgrunn, the ship Carhas making three voyages from Langesund in the year. The William brought two timber cargoes from Memel, and there were two shipments of hemp, linen, tallow and timber from St Petersburg, and one of timber from Narva.      The Baltic trade was maintained in the early years of the Napoleonic Wars, but with the development of the Continental System a decline occurred, the number of shipments falling from 14 in 1806 to one in 1808 and none in 1809. Trade was on a small scale until the end of the war but, by 1815, contacts with Norway were again established, when ten timber shipments were received.

   Between 1817 and 1827 nine to sixteen vessels entered annually at Topsham. In the 1820s trade with the Baltic was dominated by Memel, Gothenburg and St Petersburg. In 1815 contacts were also established with Riga, which sent one or two annual shipments of flax, hemp, pitch, tar and timber.

   Similar cargoes came from Archangel. After 1850 a considerable expansion in the timber trade took place.    Twenty-five vessels entered from Norway and Sweden in 1872, and these two countries contributed a major share of the large timber import of this period. 1876 saw the import of 12,716 loads#, mainly of fir timber, more than four times as much as in 1840. The trade was now controlled by Russia, Norway and Sweden. Close commercial connections were maintained with the Baltic until the end of the nineteenth century. The overseas timber trade used vessels of over 100 tons. Even in the seventeenth century vessels of over 150 tons were employed in the Norwegian trade and by the nineteenth century it became common to see vessels of 300-700 tons. The majority of timber cargoes were discharged in the Bight and carried up to Topsham or the canal entrance by raft or lighter. In 1838, 19 out of 20 visiting timber vessels discharged in the lower waters of the estuary. The estuary’s timber trade was now controlled by Topsham which handled 1599 loads out of the 1995 loads received in 1849.      By 1849, while Exeter dominated the overseas trade of the estuary, Topsham continued to handle the major part of the timber and hemp imports from the Baltic, which was mainly for its own shipyards. Some small import of foodstuffs from the Baltic took place in the 1870s, when wheat and Barley arrived from Russia. It is unlikely that the inscribed stones pictured above were positioned to commemorate goods landed at Rivers-meet and it is interesting to speculate on their original or intended location.

        [The material in this brief summary is largely drawn from the excellent book “The Ports of the Exe Estuary” by E.A.G. Clark, published by The University of Exeter (1960 and reprinted 1968).]

Additionally, Mike did some research on the 18th-19th century woollen cloth trade in the vicinity and while looking at the letters of a Lisbon merchant who imported Devon cloth, Mike noted that he was also involved in the importation of hemp from St. Petersburg to Lisbon in October 1835, using the ship WOLGA, under the command of Captain Tuleff. Morning Advertiser - Thursday 26 November 1835 - ARRIVALS: LISBON - Oct. 10, Wolga, Tuleff, from St Petersburg].

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Napoleon tries to cut off Russian hemp for Britain

In July 1807 Napoleon I of France and Csar Alexander I of Russia signed the

Treaties of Tilsit in the town of Tilsit. This treaty ended war between Imperial

Russia and the French Empire and began an alliance between the two empires

that rendered the rest of continental Europe almost powerless.

The two countries secretly agreed to aid each other in disputes.

The treaty created an alliance between Russia, France, Prussia, Denmark,

and others forcing them to break all ties, trade and commerce, with

England in an attempt to isolate England from Russia.

   Russia was one of the international main exporters, they dominated the

international hemp trade and hemp was England’s most vital commodity with

Russia supplying 90 percent. England was the top international importer of hemp.

The flourishing Russian economy and stable hemp trade between England and

Russia was a very powerful imminent threat to Napoleons France.

    Through the Treaties of Tilsit Napoleon tried to gain control of the international

hemp trade and market. Although the treaty was signed by both parties,

the Czar could not enforce the treaty and Russia didn't keep his promise because

most of their economy depended on the trade with Britain so the clandestine

trade with Britain continued to flourish.. they say money talks .. promises walk ..

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Thanks for your kind support .. Ged ged.dodd@blueyonder.co.uk

All flax/hemp bale seals are of interest to us .. all scans and seals gratefully accepted.

*Project List of all known Flax and Hemp Post Numbers on Russian Lead Seals.* *The information here is derived from seals found by and submitted to the Project by metal detectorists - and is constantly updating.*
*	all seals that have a * replacing a post number are hemp seals.
*		25	50	75	100	125	150	175	200	225	250	275	300	325	350	375	400	425	450
1		26	51	76	101	126	151	176	201	226	251	276	301	326	351	376	401	426	451
2		27	52	77	102	127	152	177	202	227	252	277	302	327	352	377	402	427	452
3		28	53	78	103	128	153	178	203	228	253	278	303	328	353	378	403	428	453
4		29	54	79	104	129	154	179	204	229	254	279	304	329	354	379	404	429	454
5		30	55	80	105	130	155	180	205	230	255	280	305	330	355	380	405	430	455
6		31	56	81	106	131	156	181	206	231	256	281	306	331	356	381	406	431	456
7		32	57	82	107	132	157	182	207	232	257	282	307	332	357	382	407	432	457
8		33	58	83	108	133	158	183	208	233	258	283	308	333	358	383	408	433	458
9		34	59	84	109	134	159	184	209	234	259	284	309	334	359	384	409	434	459
10		35	60	85	110	135	160	185	210	235	260	285	310	335	360	385	410	435	460
11		36	61	86	111	136	161	186	211	236	261	286	311	336	361		411	436	461
12		37	62	87	112	137	162	187	212	237	262	287	312	337	362		412	437	462
13		38	63	88	113	138	163	188	213	238	263	288	313	338	363		413	438	463
14		39	64	89	114	139	164	189	214	239	264	289	314	339	364		414	439	464
15		40	65	90	115	140	165	190	215	240	265	290	315	340	365		415	440	465
16		41	66	91	116	141	166	191	216	241	266	291	316	341	366		416	441	466
17		42	67	92	117	142	167	192	217	242	267	292	317	342	367		417	442	467
18		43	68	93	118	143	168	193	218	243	268	293	318	343	368		418	443	468
19		44	69	94	119	144	169	194	219	244	269	294	319	344	369		419	444	469
20		45	70	95	120	145	170	195	220	245	270	295	320	345	370		420	445	470
21		46	71	96	121	146	171	196	221	246	271	296	321	346	371		421	446	471
22		47	72	97	122	147	172	197	222	247	272	297	322	347	372		422	447	472
23		48	73	98	123	148	173	198	223	248	273	298	323	348	373		423	448	473
24		49	74	99	124	149	174	199	224	249	274	299	324	349	374		424	449	474