Gerry's Collection
of Antique Wax Seal Stamps
The White Collection
The wax seal stamps are regrouped in various sections to easily explore the collection.
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The round shield and the crown on the coat of arms of this ivory seal stamp suggest that it once belonged to a viscountess. While the specific family remains unidentified, the presence of a wild boar atop the tower is a notable detail. In heraldry, the boar is a powerful symbol with deep historical significance. It typically represents courage and bravery, as the animal is known for its fierce nature and for fighting to the death rather than fleeing. A wild boar, hard to kill and relentless when provoked, are qualities admired in knights.
The Use of Ivory and bone in Wax Seal Craftsmanship. Sealing with Elegance.
Wax seal stamps made of ivory were among the most refined and luxurious writing accessories of the 18th and 19th centuries. Ivory’s smooth grain, natural luster, and warm, creamy hue made it highly desirable for aristocratic and bourgeois owners who valued elegance in even their most practical objects. The material was primarily sourced from elephant tusks originating in British India, Africa, and occasionally Southeast Asia, then shipped to Europe through colonial trade routes. Once in Europe, ivory was worked by specialist turners and carvers, often affiliated with guilds in cities such as Paris, Vienna, and London, who required remarkable skill to shape it without splintering or discoloring it. Handles were frequently turned into fluted baluster forms or carved with Rococo or Neoclassical ornament. An ivory-handled seal was more than a tool; it was a mark of status and taste. In contrast, some wax seal stamps were made from bone, a more modest and accessible material. Bone shared some visual characteristics with ivory but lacked its translucency, density, and fine grain. Bone-handled seals were still valued for their craftsmanship, but they were generally not associated with the same level of refinement or expense. The difference thus lay more in symbolic and social weight, rather than appearance.
This seal stamp features two engraved shields, symbolizing a marriage alliance between two families. A closer examination of the coat of arms reveals a small galleon, a historic type of battleship, alongside a telescope, a sword, and a moon. Could it have belonged to a noble seafarer? Quite possibly. In any case, the symbols on this antique stamp evoke echoes of the conquistas and the epic journeys of explorers like Christopher Columbus.
This ivory stamp is engraved with the coat of arms of the du Chambge family. The base of the stamp bears the inscription "Cachet du Baron du Chambge de Liessart," suggesting that it may have belonged to Éléonore Paul Constant, Baron du Chambge de Liessart. He was not a widely known peer but a genealogist and author who belonged to the noble du Chambge de Liessart family of Flanders and Lille. He compiled a regional genealogical and administrative history, notably: Notes historiques relatives aux offices et aux officiers du bureau des finances de la généralité de Lille (Lille, 1855). He is credited on the title page, styled as Baron du Chambge de Liessart. The family has different branches, and notable members include Pierre-Joseph du Chambge d'Elbhecq, Lord of Liessart, and Charles Eubert du Chambge de Liessart, who held the title of knight, not baron.
This stamp is a true antique. Its bronze base is engraved with the coat of arms of the Le Bertre family, a noble lineage from Normandy. They held the rank of Chevalier (Knight), which is considered a lower rank of nobility in France. In the French nobility hierarchy, the ranks from lowest to highest are: Écuyer (Squire), Page (Page), Chevalier (Knight), Baron (Baron), Vidame (Vidame), Vicomte (Viscount), Comte (Count/Earl), Marquis (Marquess), Duc (Duke), followed by Princes, Crown Princes, and Kings.
This finely carved seal stamp, engraved with an alliance coat of arms, belonged to a member of the de Bonnault family. However, I have not been able to determine the exact identity of its owner or that of his spouse. The de Bonnault family held the titles of Viscounts of Villemenard and Houët. Although the documented title of the family is viscount, the coronet above the shields is that of a count. Furthermore, a drawing of the arms dated 17 June 1867 bears the inscription “Comte de Bonnault Sauldre,” suggesting that the Sauldre branch of the de Bonnault family may have held the title of count. The coronet on the drawing is however the coronet of a viscount, which is confusing. One notable member of the family was François-Joseph Bonnault d'Houet, born in the 18th century. He was the son of François Antoine de Bonnault, vicomte de Saint-Germain-du-Puy, and Catherine Turpin.
This antique silver and ivory seal stamp belonged to Princess Elisabeth Nikolaevna Saltykov (1772–1852) and Charles-Louis-François-Gabriel de Raimond de Mormoiron, Count of Modena (1774–1833). The handle, carved in the shape of a Moorish-style tower, screws open. At its base, an orange stone is engraved with the couple’s coat of arms. The Raimond de Mormoiron family coat of arms represents three families who, through marriage, held the lordship of Modena over the centuries. The County of Modena was first granted to the Mormoiron House by Boson II, Count of Provence. In 1279, it passed to the Raimond family, then to the Venasque family, before returning to the Raimonds three generations later. François Raimond, born in 1570, was the first to adopt the name "Raimond de Mormoiron." During the French Revolution, Charles-Louis entered Russian service, where he married Princess Saltykov.
This stamp was sold as a "19th century silver stamp," but while the coat of arms is well-executed, it is likely not an authentic piece. The handle is made of mother of pearl, which is uncommon for antique stamps. Looking at the base, you can see two different metals: silver and gold. It seems that the coat of arms matrix may have been reaffixed to this stamp, suggesting it’s not an original, and the engraving might be recent. While there are fakes on the market, some can still be quite well-made.
This 19th-century antique wax seal stamp features the coat of arms of the French Cugnon d'Alincourt family: Sable, three stirrups Argent. The surname Cugnon derives from a village in Wallonia, the the modern-day province of Luxembourg, Belgium. The earliest documented lord of the place was Algidus (or Gilles) de Cugnon, appearing in charters from the mid‑12th century, notably around 1173 and 1187 as a knight and ally of the Counts of Chiny. However, one of the younger branches of the family has migrated into northeastern France. Pierre de Cugnon, cited as lord of Saint‑Benoît (in Champagne), is recognized as the ancestor of the Cugnon d’Alincourt, de Sévricourt, and de Vandy branches, and adopted the arms charged with three stirrups.
Seal of Cugnon de St-Benoit and d'Alincourt
Cugnon in the County of Chiny, 11th century
Adrien de Cugnon d'Alincourt at the battle of Sedan
Buying antique wax seal stamps online can sometimes feel like a gamble. This one comes from Germany and had been "on my radar" for several months. I finally decided to buy it, and it turned out to be a really beautiful stamp. However, I'm not sure who it originally belonged to. It was sold as a stamp from "Les ouvriers de Longwy," meaning "The workers of Longwy." Not particularly noble, of course, but still a very nice stamp.
An elegant ivory-handled wax seal stamp engraved with a heraldic cross of St. Andrew. Typically depicted as a saltire, this diagonal cross is often associated with St. Andrew and symbolizes bravery. The stamp may have belonged to the d'Anteville family, from Normandy.
This ivory stamp features the alliance coat of arms of Gasparine Marie Charlotte de Loyac, who married Jacques Raymond de La Béraudière in 1834. The de Loyac family were the lords of La Bachelerie. A notorious member of the family of her husband, the de La Béraudière family, is Louise. She was born in 1530 and was Lady in Waiting of Queen Catherine de' Medici. She was also known as "La belle Rouhet". Louise de la Béraudière was the mistress of several members of the royal family as well as prominent writers of the 16th century. Who would have thought? Louise de la Béraudière's origins are a subject of debate. She is the daughter of Louis de la Béraudière, Seigneur de Sourches et de Rouhet, and Marquis de l’Isle Jourdain. However, some sources suggest that her mother was Louise de Guiche - the aunt of Henriette de la Guiche, wife of Louis de Valois, Duke of Angoulême - rather than her father’s legitimate wife, Madeleine du Fou. She had an affair with King Antoine of Navarre and is said to have given birth to Charles III de Bourbon (1554–1610) as a result of their relationship.
Tapestry with the La Béraudière family coat of arms.
Arms of the de Loyac family.
Portrait of Louise de la Béraudière du Rouhet
The shield shown on this seal stamp, which was bought from Spain, has a semi-rounded base with a central point, which indeed resembles to what is known in heraldry as an Iberian or Spanish-style escutcheon, often called a "Spanish heater shield". This particular shield shape, rounded at the base with a slight point, is typical of 17th- to 18th-century heraldic depictions in Spain. The overall stamp seems consistent with noble or aristocratic seals from the late Habsburg or early Bourbon period in Spain.
This is very beautiful stamp belonged to Raymond Alexandre Durant de Mareuil (1818–1887), who Married Charlotte Alexandrine Dannery. Raymond was the youngest son of Joseph Alexandre, and his second wife, Christine Caroline von Schott. While Raymond's father was a French career diplomat, who served as Ambassador to the United States from 1824 to 1830, he himself did not hold a major political office like his father or older brother (Jean-Joseph). The family were barons of Mareuil, but Joseph became Count of Mareuil in 1846. Raymond's wife, Charlotte Alexandrine Dannery (1834–1886), was the daughter of Jean Germain Samuel Adams Dannery (1795–1837), a French diplomat who served as consul general in Boston. Her grandmother, Julie Madeleine Sophie Forget (1762–1846), known as the Baronne Dannery, served as the governess for the Spanish princesses Zénaïde and Charlotte, daughters of King Joseph Bonaparte, and later became the superintendent of the Maison d'éducation de la Légion d'honneur in Saint-Denis.
Joseph Alexandre Jacques Durant de Mareuil
Alliance seal Durant de Mareuil and Dannery
The baroness Dannery holding her son.
This is an exception in my collection. Besides being the smallest wax seal stamp I have, it is also not engraved with a family crest or coat of arms. Nevertheless, it is still a very cute (and very) little stamp.
This stamp is made of ivory and features a beautiful crown above a simple shield with three single-headed eagles. While the country of origin is unclear, one family that used a similar coat of arms was the Leiningen family, and old German noble family whose lands lay in Alsace, Lorraine, Saarland, Rhineland, and the Palatinate.
This is a very nice stamp of the Spanish Onis family. The Onís family is a Spanish lineage with historical significance, particularly in diplomacy. Genealogic records date back to the early 16th century. Originally from Torre de Villoria, a historical tower in the province of Cuenca, Spain, the family relocated to Salamanca in the mid-17th century. While the surname is relatively rare, it is most prevalent in Spain, especially in Madrid, and also found in regions like Honduras and Nicaragua. Luis de Onís y González-Vara (1762–1827) is a notable member of the family. A distinguished Spanish diplomat, Luis de Onís is renowned for negotiating the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819 with U.S. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. This treaty resulted in Spain ceding Florida to the United States and defined the western boundaries of the Louisiana Purchase.
Full arms of Don José de Onís
Stamp of the Onis family
The coat of arms of the Spanish Onis family
Don Luis de Onís y González-Vara
A beautiful ivory alliance seal stamp from Austria. The crowns are different and reflect the rank of nobility. The dexter shield shows a coronet with seven pearls. This is typically the coronet of a Count (Graf) or Countess in Austrian, German, and Hungarian heraldic systems. The standard would be nine visible pearls, but in smaller formats, like a stamp, seven are often shown to simplify the design. A coronet with five pearls is associated with a Baron (Freiherr) or a Baroness. ​
This is the wax seal stamp of my own family, which marked the beginning of my collection. I received it from my father, and it is probably one of the nicest gifts I’ve ever received. Our family’s coat of arms features eagles, symbolizing strength, courage, and nobility. Our family motto is "Courageous and Loyal" (Preux et Loyal).
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Another stamp that joined the collection from Italy. The shield is surmounted by a noble coronet with four large pearls, which is rather unusual. Normally a baron would have a coronet with five pearls. But knowing that available engraving surface of this stamp is very small, only 1.5 cm wide, it is understandable that the coat of arms is less detailed. I like it anyway, and I find the ivory handle very much.
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While the origin of this stamp remains unknown, there is a French family, the Privat (or Privas) de Fressenel, that bears a similar coat of arms. However, it is important to observe that the cross on the stamp is a “cross couped" (croix alésée), as its arms do not extend to the edges of the field. In heraldry, such a detail makes all the difference.
Looking at the shape of the shield, this stamp may have belonged to Marie Girard du Demaine, born de Rémusat. She was the wife of Count Jean Joseph Roger Girard du Demaine, who was the mayor of Avignon. Some research shows that the Girard du Demaine family used several variations of the coat of arms. Originally it was "Azure, a cross argent". But later versions include "Quarterly: 1st and 4th, Gules, a lion Or; 2nd and 3rd, Azure, five billets Argent. Overall, Or, a cross Azure", while in other versions the cross is Argent on Azure (version pictured). So, it is probable that different branches adopted different variations to differentiate themselves. The coat of arms engraved on this stamp presents one more variation. Indeed, the lions are apparently on an Argent background. Having noticed these variations, it is nevertheless very probable that the stamp belonged to a member of the Girard du Demaine family. Also, while Roger was a Count, some sources mention the crown of Marquis on the coat of arms.
A beautiful ivory stamp, engraved with the coat of arms representing the alliance between Baron Alfred Faure de Lilate and Marie Camille de Ponsort (deceased in 1909, married in 1873). Ivory was highly valued as a material for seal stamp handles, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries, because of its unique combination of practical and aesthetic qualities. Artisans could create delicate details, such as classical busts, scrolls, foliage, or allegorical scenes, with high precision.
Combining simplicity with pure elegance, this ivory and silver stamp displays the alliance coat of arms uniting Jacques de Loynes du Houlley and Marguerite d'Argouges. Jacques, son of Émilien and Baron du Houlley alongside his brother Ernest, was a military man. Marguerite, the youngest child of Henri d'Argouges, belonged to a major Norman family. Her house was distinguished by its many noble titles, such as Marquis de Rannes and de Gratot, Comte d'Argouges, Baron d'Annebecq, as well as lordship over vast lands including the seigneuries of Donville, Morillon, and Vaux. The d'Argouges family has a long history of nobility and service, since Rollo the Viking, first Duke of Normandy. But, as it is related in the page about the family, there are also interesting tales about their Château de Gratot, which is said to have been haunted...
Another nicely carved stamp from an unknown family. The engraving clearly features three shells, which are commonly used in heraldry. The escallop shell originally served as an emblem for pilgrims and later came to symbolize long voyages to distant lands. It represents piety, victory, and warrior spirit. The Moore’s head in the fess suggests a possible connection with African territories.
A very nice silver seal stamp, engraved with the coat of arms of Charles Armand, Duc de Maillé (1770–1837), featuring the crown of a Duke and the mantle of a Peer of France. Charles Armand de Maillé was a Field Marshal, Knight of the King's Orders, and became Duke and Peer of France in 1820. The banner under the shield displays the family motto, "Stetit Unda Fluens" in Latin, which translates to "Stay above the flow". Could the (Or) shield charged with three red (Gules) nebuly fesses refer to the motto? A nebuly fess in heraldry often symbolizes water waves. The Duchy of Maillé (Pair de France) was created in 1784 for Charles René de Maillé de La Tour-Landry, who came from the junior line of the family. He was the first Duke of Maillé. (Ai)
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Gerry's Collection of Antique Seal Stamps.