Gerry's Collection
of Antique Wax Seal Stamps
The Black Collection
The wax seal stamps are regrouped in various sections to easily explore the collection.
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This stamp made of wood and brass is engraved with a beautiful coat of arms. The design features two rampant lions holding a shield, with a very small motto on the banner above the crest. The motto, Semper Fidelis, translates from Latin to "Always faithful" or "Always loyal." The crown depicted is that of a Baron. The shield displays a gold (Or) chevron, two lozenges, and another small rampant lion on a blue (Azur) background. These elements could provide more clues about the family.
Black-Handled Stamps in Wax Seal History. Common yet Enduring.
One cannot avoid noticing that many antique seal stamps have a black handle. The prevalence of black-handled wax seal stamps, often made of ebonized wood or naturally dark hardwoods like ebony or stained fruitwood, is closely tied to their practical function and widespread use in the 18th and 19th centuries. These black handles were typically utilitarian in nature: they were sturdy, discreet, and easy to turn on a lathe, making them ideal for both personal and administrative use. Unlike ivory or agate, black wood was more accessible and affordable, allowing for broader distribution among the bourgeoisie, lawyers, clerks, and minor nobility. Their dark, polished finish also masked wear and soot, especially in settings where seals were used frequently by candlelight or in dusty offices.
However, not all black-handled stamps were purely utilitarian. Some were carefully turned and finely finished, suggesting they still carried an element of personal taste or modest elegance. In fact, many such stamps were engraved with high-quality matrices with coats of arms, showing that the emphasis was often on the engraving itself rather than the opulence of the handle. Black-handled stamps were versatile and durable, making them reliable in everyday correspondence.
This stamp belonged to Antoine-Louis-François de Béziade (or Bésiade) (born 1759), Duke of Avaray. The title of Duke of Avaray was created in 1799 by the exiled royal government of Louis XVIII, elevating the County of L'Isle-Jourdain in Gers to a duchy-peerage in favor of Antoine-Louis-François. While serving Monsieur (the future Louis XVIII), he orchestrated the escape of Louis XVI’s brother from the Petit Luxembourg. The name Avaray came from a small seigneury in Loir-et-Cher, which had been associated with the Béziade family in the 18th century. On June 11th, 1817, after being restored to the throne, Louis XVIII confirmed the title and authorized its reversion to Claude-Antoine de Béziade (1740–1829), the father of the first duke. Summoned to the Chamber of Peers on August 17, 1815, he was granted the rank of hereditary duke and peer of France, with letters patent issued on December 8, 1817.
This stamp was one of the first to join my collection. It features a distinctive turned ebonized wood handle. The matrix is engraved with a heraldic coat of arms representing the union or marriage of two noble families. Above the shield, there are two crowned helmets with mantling, along with a greyhound and an angel as crests. A particularly interesting detail within the shield is the depiction of double arrows piercing a royal crown. This could be a reference to St. Edmund’s crown, though the direction of the arrows is reversed.
This stamp belonged to a member of the Agard de Rouméjoux family, from Perigord in France. Their coat of arms is "Azure, a semé of billets Or, two chevrons couped Argent over all". Research shows that Louis Côme Agard de Rouméjoux, born in 1809 at the castle of Chatelard, is a French general who fought in Crimea and was elevated to Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour. He was the son of Pierre, who was ennobled in 1825, and the uncle of Anatole de Rouméjoux. Anatole de Rouméjoux was elected president of the Historical and Archaeological Society of Périgord on May 27, 1893. He held this position until his death. He married Marie de Garrigues de Flaujac (1842–1937) in 1864. She came from an old family of Quercy. Their daughter Marguerite married Félix de Fayolle de Tocane, Marquis of Fayolle.
The engraving on this seal stamp is very nice, with the peer helmet being especially well-carved. The key feature of this coat of arms is the stone structure resembling a fortified gateway with detailed brickwork. In the arched opening there is a tiny figure. The figure resembles a rodent, like mouse (mice) or rat. Alternatively, it could be a bird, perched upright. It is not easy to identify, but a mouse or rat in a tower could be interpreted as a symbol of surviving under siege or overcoming adversity.
This is the alliance stamp of Jacques de Chièvres and Zénobie Aymer de La Chevalerie. Jacques was the son of Pierre de Chièvres (1769-1831), a French nobleman and political figure who was appointed by Napoleon Bonaparte, his former schoolmate, as a tax collector in Rouen. Jacque's wife, Zénobie, was the granddaughter of Louis René, and the grandniece of Louis René's sister: Henriette Aymer de La Chevalerie, born in 1767. During the French Revolution, Henriette and her mother were imprisoned for sheltering priests. After her release she joined the Association of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was through this association that she met Father Pierre Coudrin. Together, they founded the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, also known as the Picpus Congregation, officially established on Christmas Day in 1800.
I do not especially like this particular piece. I find it too "shiny". But the arms, probably from Holland are nevertheless interesting. The overall style and imagery are consistent with patrician or merchant-aristocratic families in the Low Countries (Dutch Republic or Spanish Netherlands) in the 18th to early 19th century. The three-masted galleon points to naval service, maritime trade, or colonial ventures, common in Dutch and Flemish merchant families.
This stamp is engraved with the coat of arms of François Victor Remy, Baron of St. Ouen d'Ernemont, along with the Legion d'Honneur decoration. The St. Ouen d'Ernemont branch is a junior line of the St. Ouen sous Bailly family, which is believed to be extinct. The last known descendant was Berthe de St. Ouen d'Ernemont, who passed away in 1930. Berthe de Saint Ouen d'Ernemont, born in November 1846, married Henri d'Anjou, Marquis, in June 1879. The senior line of the St. Ouen sous Bailly family is believed to have originated with Guillaume I de Saint Ouen, Seigneur de St. Ouen, who lived in the mid-12th century and is the ancestor of the d'Ernemont branch. This family is believed to have become extinct with the death of Berthe.
Based on the details of the Viscount crown, this small stamp may originate from Italy. The shield is adorned with a star and a lion. When a lion and a star appear together in a coat of arms, they often symbolize a noble lineage aspiring to greatness, while embodying strength and protection. This combination can suggest a guiding presence, with the lion offering courage and the star representing high aspirations or divine favor. It is all symbolism...
The coat of arms on this seal stamp dates back to the Napoleonic Empire. For his Imperial aristocracy, Napoleon created a new heraldic system, which was partly based on pre-1789 heraldry, but also incorporated many new elements. For example, crowns were replaced by a system of caps. Above the shield on this stamp, we can see the heraldic cap for a Baron. The caps worn by Barons were depicted with feathers, which served as decorative elements, enhancing the overall grandeur and distinction of the noble rank. It’s also interesting to note that the title of Marquis was not officially recognized in the Imperial nobility under Napoleon. The titles established for the new nobility included Prince, Duke, Count, Baron, and Chevalier.
On this stamp, the left (dexter) shield - from the viewer of the stamp's matrix' point of view, meaning the sinister, or right side when stamped in wax - shows what seems to be a griffin issuant and segreant, meaning with its wings expanded. The shield could be interpreted as "Per fess Azure and Argent, a griffin segreant issuant from the line of division". On the other shield, the sinister shield, we can clearly see a fish, which looks like a salmon or a trout, with two poles with banner, crossed in saltire.
This elegant small wax seal stamp belonged to a noblewoman. The round shield is a distinctive feature often seen in the coats of arms of women and sometimes non-combatants. The crown appears to be that of a Viscountess. It makes a lovely addition to the collection. On the quartered shield we can see two that are semé (strewn or scattered) with small escutcheons (écussons). It is a less common but legitimate heraldic pattern which can represent multiple alliances, shields of vassals or dependents.
This wax seal stamp is an intriguing exception in my collection. The coat of arms is not from a European noble family, but rather the coat of arms of Cuba. A rare find. The arms of Cuba were originally designed by Miguel Teurbe Tolón (1820–1857), a Cuban who lived in exile in the United States. It is a complex and symbolic emblem officially known as the "Escudo de Cuba" that was adopted in 1906 by Tomás Estrada Palma, the first president of Cuba, though its original design dates to 1849. It is rich in iconography representing the island’s geography, political ideals, and history. The chief depicts a key between two rocks, symbolizing Cuba as the "Key to the Gulf" between North and South America. The blue and white stripes represent the five departments of Cuba. The royal palm tree symbolizes the Cuban character: strong and resilient. ​​
This tiny wax seal stamp is quite an interesting item. It features engravings on both ends. One end displays a coat of arms with a crown and two shields, while the other end shows the same crown accompanied by a monogram. It’s uncommon to find such a stamp, especially one so small, only 5.2 cm high. With a matrix measuring just 1.2 x 1.5 cm, the engraving must have been very challenging to create, which likely explains why the coat of arms is not easy to analyze without zooming in the picture.
In heraldry, the depiction of camels or dromedaries (Arabian camels) is rare, and a specific coat of arms featuring three dromedaries on an argent field, like the one engraved on this stamp, is not documented. We can nevertheless speculate that this stamp could have belonged to a French noble, who served in the "Régiment des Dromadaires" under Napoleon. The motto Nil Timere, Latin for "To fear nothing" can reinforce this idea. The Régiment des Dromadaires (Dromedary Regiment) was a special military unit created by Napoleon Bonaparte during his Egyptian campaign (1798–1801). It was a mobile cavalry unit adapted to desert warfare, and one of the most exotic and unusual regiments of the Napoleonic era. It is possible that nobles of this regiment adopted dromedaries or camels into their coat of arms as a symbol of this prestigious service. Alternatively, the stamp could also come from a family involved with colonial Africa. Many French nobles participated in colonial governance and military operations, for example in Algeria. Some reshaped their heraldry to reflect these roles.
This large stamp is made of black stone. The round shield suggests it may have belonged to a noblewoman. However, the arms depicted are those of the French city of Herlincourt. Originally belonging to the Wartelle d'Herlincourt family, the arms were modified, as the family still exists. To avoid confusion, the two silver stars were removed from the chief.
The engraving on this stamp features corn plants. In heraldry, corn plants (often represented as wheat or other grains) symbolize abundance, fertility, and agricultural wealth. They can also reflect a connection to the land and a community’s agricultural heritage. In a coat of arms, corn plants may be depicted in various ways—whether as part of a shield or as decorative elements—highlighting the importance of agriculture to the family or region represented.
This is another example of a classic shape for a wax seal stamp. The engraving features the coat of arms of a couple, with two shields beneath a noble crown. In the second shield, we can see two hands. Hands are highly symbolic in heraldry, and their meaning can vary depending on their depiction, position, and context. The hands here are Dexter hands, meaning right hands. In heraldry, the right hand is considered the more honorable or virtuous side and is often associated with strength or justice.
An old and likely frequently used wax seal stamp from Austria. Marks like these are evidence of the rich history this object carries. Notably, the ceremonial helmet (Prunkhelm) is featured as one of the crests.
This stamp originates from Germany. However, the crest features what appears to be a triple-headed eagle. The triple-headed eagle is historically associated with the Byzantine Empire, the Holy Roman Empire (where it symbolized the emperor's rule over multiple territories), Russia (representing the unity of the Russian principalities and the Orthodox Church), and even Armenia and some Slavic nations.
An unusual addition to the collection, this stamp is not from a noble family but is nonetheless quite interesting. It originates from the Royal Legation of Romania in Copenhagen. Romania maintained a royal legation in Denmark from 1920 until 1940 as part of its efforts to strengthen international relations during the interwar period. The legation was upgraded to an embassy in 1947, following World War II. Romania was a monarchy from 1881 to 1947. The Kingdom was established in 1881, when Prince Carol, of the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen family, was crowned King Carol I. The Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen family was a branch of the German Hohenzollern family. The last monarch of Romania was King Michael I, who was forced to abdicate in 1947, under pressure from the communists backed by the Soviet Union. Today, there is no monarchy in Romania, but the royal family still exists, headed symbolically by Margareta, the daughter of King Michael I.
Another classic and elegant stamp, featuring the coat of arms representing the alliance of a noble couple. The Argent shield is charged with a swan, which in heraldry often symbolizes grace, beauty, love, and sometimes loyalty or fidelity. The Gules shield is charged with a garb, a stylized depiction of a sheaf of wheat or other grain, typically tied with a band or ribbon. This is a common charge in heraldry, symbolizing harvest, agricultural wealth, or prosperity.
This is a fine stamp engraved with the coat of arms of a Baron of the Faure de Lilate family from France. There are several variations of the coat of arms, which makes it difficult to identify the specific owner of this stamp.
The engraving on this stamp depicts the arms of the Drummond of Melfort family, a cadet branch of the House of Drummond of Lundin from Scotland. John Drummond, the 1st Earl of Melfort and styled Duke of Melfort, was born in 1649. Scotland is home to several families that have achieved the highest rank in the peerage: a dukedom. Many of these families originated from the borderlands between the Highlands and Lowlands, and the Drummond family has been a significant power in this region for centuries. The motto on the coat of arms reads "Dei dono sum quod sum," which translates to "By the gift of God, I am what I am."
This antique seal was purchased in France and may have belonged to the Megange (or Mengen) family. Some sources suggest that the family is a branch of the Warnesberg-Raville family, while others connect it to the van Beeck family. As a result, the exact origin remains unclear.
The crest on this coat of arms features a winged lion. In heraldry, a winged lion typically symbolizes strength, nobility, and protection, combining the qualities of a lion with the notion of flight or divine power. This figure is often linked to various cultural and religious contexts, such as the Lion of Saint Mark in Venice, which represents the evangelist Mark and signifies courage and authority.
On this stamp we can see a mark of cadency: Quarterly argent and gules, a label with four pendants overall. A label consists of a horizontal band with multiple pendants and is typically used to signify the eldest son during his father's lifetime. Similar arms were used by various families, including the de Dol family in France, and the Castell family in Germany. While we can't be sure who this stamp belonged to, research nevertheless teaches us that Jean de Dol was Archbishop of Dol in 1087, and that the Castell family of Germany has a very interesting history. Indeed, in 1901, the heads of the two family branches, the counts of Castell-Castell and Castell-Rüdenhausen, were each granted the hereditary title of Prince by Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria. It is also worth noting that the world-renowned company Faber-Castell, which has remained in the same family for eight generations, represents the union of two noble lineages through the marriage of Baroness Ottilie von Faber and Count Alexander zu Castell-Rüdenhausen.
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Gerry's Collection of Antique Seal Stamps.