Gerry's Collection
of Antique Wax Seal Stamps
The Wooden Collection
Antique Seal Stamps Crafted from Precious Woods, including Ebony, Walnut, and Rosewood
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The engraving on this seal stamp suggests an origin within the French or Belgian heraldic tradition, particularly due to the ornate floral ornamentation and the detailed rendering of the helm and mantling. Six-pointed stars are a common feature in German, Swiss, and French heraldry. While the specific combination of a chevron, stars, and a flower is relatively uncommon, it was used in various forms by several noble and bourgeois families in France and Wallonia between the 17th and 19th centuries.
Precious Woods in the Art of Wax Seal Handles.
Wooden-handled wax seal stamps were among the most widespread types from the 17th through the 19th centuries, ranging from modest utilitarian forms to exquisite objects of personal refinement. For high-end stamps, craftsmen favored precious and exotic woods such as ebony, rosewood, kingwood, amboyna burl, and cocobolo. All were admired for their dense grain, rich coloring, and natural polish. These woods were often imported through colonial trade networks, sourced from South America, Africa, India, or the East Indies, and were selected for both durability and beauty. Their rarity and the difficulty of working them elevated such stamps far above the commonplace, making them coveted accessories for aristocrats, diplomats, and collectors. To highlight the luxury of these woods, skilled turners would shape the handles on lathes into elegantly balanced profiles, often in baluster or domed forms, which allowed the grain to catch the light from multiple angles. The wood was then polished to a lustrous sheen using oils, waxes, and fine abrasives, enhancing its depth and texture without needing additional ornamentation. In some cases, small details were carved into the surface to emphasize the craftsmanship. The result was a handle that was not only functional, but also tactile, sensual, and expressive of the owner's personal taste and refinement.
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This seal stamp belonged to Marie-Louise-Laurence du Rocher du Quengo (1767–1844), Countess of Quengo. She was the daughter of Louis-Jean Ménard and Jeanne-Charles de Portelance. In 1792, she married Gabriel-Pierre-Louis du Rocher du Quengo, a marine officer from an old noble family in Brittany, who was killed four years later. She was also the niece of Count Jean-François de La Marche, Bishop of Saint-Pol-de-Léon, who died in exile in England. Jean-François de La Marche was the last bishop-count of the Diocese of Léon (Finistère), which he led from 1772 until the seat was abolished in 1801 by Pope Pius VII. In March 1816, King Louis XVIII appointed Marie-Louise as superintendent of the Royal House of the Daughters of the Legion of Honor in Saint-Denis. This noble and devout lady endeavored to instill a spirit of faith and religious practice within the institution.
Marie-Louise du Rocher du Quengo
The stamp of Countess Marie-Louise du Rocher du Quengo
Jean-Francois de La Marche
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This seal stamp was owned by a member of the Schreitter Ritter von Schwarzenfeld family, which belonged to the Austrian hereditary nobility and represents a typical example of the Habsburg service nobility, rising through economic success, loyalty to the Crown, and public service. The family’s ancestor, Ignaz Schreitter (1749-1824), was born near Chodau in Bohemia and became a prosperous landowner, and citizen of Kaaden. Through skillful estate management, he acquired several properties, including Michelsdorf, Libin, Koster-Luschitz, Pokatitz, and the lordship of Weitentrebetitsch and Ledau. Influenced by the Enlightenment and Josephine reforms, he promoted education, built schools, paid teachers, and supported the population during periods of famine. His loyalty to the Emperor and his material contributions during the Napoleonic Wars, particularly in supplying fortresses and supporting wounded soldiers, led to his ennoblement in 1807 with the title “von Schwarzenfeld". In 1815, he was admitted to the Bohemian knighthood (Ritterstand) and received the Bohemian Inkolat, granting him full noble rights in the kingdom. His son Josef Schreitter von Schwarzenfeld continued his humanitarian policies, abolishing forced labor on the family’s estates even before its legal abolition in 1848. Other family members served in politics, law, and administration. Ludwig Schreitter von Schwarzenfeld was a progressive member of the Bohemian Landtag, while later generations produced lawyers, mayors, and senior military officers. During the First World War, Walter Schreitter von Schwarzenfeld fought on the Isonzo front, and his brother Franz commanded an Imperial Army Corps in Bukovina.
Drawing of the arms from the patent of nobility for elevation to the hereditary Bohemian nobility
A beautiful watercolor drawing depicting in details one of the several estates that were at times in the
Schreitter von Schwarzenfeld family’s possession.
Johann Ignaz Schreitter Ritter von Schwarzenfeld
Seal stamp of the Schreitter family
Drawing from the patent for elevation to the rank of knight
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This stamp may have belonged to a descendant of the du Rufflay family. The history of the family is little known, and few records remain, as most public documents were destroyed. This family is said to have been originally known as Gascoing. The coat of arms is: Argent, a chevron Gules, accompanied by three cinquefoils.
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This seal stamp belonged to General Auguste-Nicolas Lenoir, Vicomte Lenoir. He came from bourgeois background rather than the traditional nobility. His father was a portrait painter, placing the family within the artistic and professional milieu of the late 18th century. This origin explains the absence of the Lenoir family from older nobiliary sources, despite Auguste-Nicolas later bearing a noble title. Lenoir rose entirely through military merit. He served with distinction under Napoleon Bonaparte, notably during the campaigns of Ulm and Austerlitz (1805). His competence and reliability ensured steady advancement. Under the Bourbon Restoration, he was promoted to maréchal de camp in 1814, later confirmed as général de brigade, demonstrating his successful adaptation to changing regimes. His title of vicomte was a personal, service-based distinction, not a mark of ancient hereditary nobility. No descendants achieved comparable prominence, leaving his legacy centered on his own career and achievements.
Registration of Mr. Lenoir’s coat of arms
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Auguste-Nicolas Lenoir (1776-1850)
Général de Division of Napoléon Bonaparte
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This wooden seal stamp is engraved with the rather elaborate coat of arms of the Boscary de Villepaine family, a lineage associated with loyalty to the French monarchy during the Revolutionary period. Jean-Baptiste Joseph Boscary de Villepaine (1757-1827) was born in Lyon and built a successful career as a stockbroker. During the events of 1792, he served as deputy commander of the National Guard battalion of the Filles-Saint-Thomas and placed himself at personal risk to protect King Louis XVI and the royal family during the invasion of the Tuileries Palace. After escaping persecution and exile in Switzerland, he returned to France following the fall of Robespierre and rebuilt his fortune. In recognition of his services to the Crown, Louis XVIII ennobled him in 1819. His coat of arms, featuring a castle, commemorated his defense of the Tuileries. Jean-Baptiste Boscary de Villepaine was ennobled by King Louis XVIII on 29 September 1819 in recognition of his loyal service to the Bourbon monarchy, both during the Revolution and after the Restoration.
Jean-Baptiste Joseph Boscary de Villeplaine
Coat of arms Boscary de Villeplaine
Alexandrine Boscary de Villepaine
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This seal stamp belonged to the Le Roy de Valanglart family, a noble house of Normandy whose history can be traced back to the Ancien Régime. Established in Normandy, the family held position within the provincial nobility rather than among the great court dynasties. Its members bore several titles over time, including Marquis of Valanglart, Counts of Quesnoy and Barde, and Lords of Bezancourt, reflecting a noble status rooted in territorial authority. The family’s nobility was recognized and maintained under the customary legal frameworks of the kingdom, and its arms and titles appear in regional armorials and genealogical compilations. Although the Le Roy de Valanglart family did not play a dominant role in national politics, its members fulfilled the typical functions of the provincial nobility, including military service, local administration, and estate management in places such as Quesnoy and Bezancourt.
François Léonard Le Roy de Valanglart
Arms of the Le Roy family in the Armorial d'Hozier
Max and Robert, Counts of Valanglart
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This is a German wax seal stamp, likely from the 18th or early 19th century. Based on the engraving style, and symbols, it could originate from Bavaria, Franconia, or Swabia. But it could also be Austrian if from a border region. What I find interesting in the coat of arms is that the two wings above the helm are each charged with a small version of the shield’s principal figure. We can indeed see small repeats of the Dreiberg (mount of three tops) and the stars shown on the Azure shield.
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A sealing stamp of the French family Le Vaillant du Châtelet et de Jollain en Ponthieu. The coat of arms of this particular stamp could have belonged to the wife of Alexandre Le Vaillant de Jollain, who was Lieutenant of the Marshals of France in the northern city of Aras. We can see a crown of Count in the engraving, but he was not a Count, he was only Ecuyer. On the other hand, his wife, Marie Catherine de Brandt, was the daughter of Count Alexandre de Brandt (1758-1776), Count of Marconne, who was also Lieutenant of the Marshals of France. This could explain the presence of the crown. Alexandre de Brandt held the noble title of Comte de Brandt (Count of Brandt) and Marconne. He was married to Louise Marie Anne Barbin de Broyes, Countess d'Autry.
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This seal stamp could possibly have belonged to a lady of the he Kozics family, Hungarian nobles of Podhragy (Nemes-Podhragyai). They were not titled, but part of the local noble elite of Upper Hungary.
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This may be a rather old-looking seal stamp, but I like it. It seems to have been used quite a lot. Apart from the lion (Dexter supporter) and the eagle (Sinister supporter), the figure of the crest is interesting: A knight holding a Christian cross and a sword. I don't know to which family the stamp belonged, but an Azure shield with three chess rocs is similar to the arms of the de Roquelaure family, who were dukes of Roquelaure and marquis of Biran, among other titles. Antoine de Roquelaure was the third son of Géraud, lord of Roquelaure, (died 1557), and Catherine de Bezolles. As such he was originally destined by his father for an ecclesiastical career, but at his father's death, he inherited the seigneurie of Le Longard and placed himself in the service of Antoine of Navarre. This could link to the knight holding a cross in the crest. Wild speculation on my part, of course...
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Although the round shape of the shield on this stamp would indicate that it belonged to a noble woman of the de Prie family, the decorations engraved all around it point to Louis de Prie, Marquis de Plasnes. He belonged to the later branch of the distinguished Norman and Bourbonnais family de Prie. Born into a lineage long connected with royal service, he became best known through his marriage to Jeanne-Agnès Berthelot de Pléneuf, the influential Marquise de Prie, a prominent figure at the court of Louis XV. As marquis, Louis de Prie held estates at Plasnes in Normandy and maintained the traditional responsibilities of a provincial nobleman, divided between estate management and court presence. Though overshadowed by his wife’s political role, he remained a steady representative of his family’s status within the French noblesse.
Marquis Louis de Prie
Jeanne Agnès Berthelot, Marquise de Prie
Louise de Prie de La Mothe-Houdancourt
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The coat of arms of this wax sealing stamp is rather interesting and beautifully carved, with symbols that are rather uncommon, such as the eye in the dexter shield and the bretessed bend in the sinister shield. The eye could symbolize vigilance or enlightenment symbolism. The bretessed bend is a heraldic term used to describe a bend (a diagonal band) that has embattled (castle-like) indentations along both its upper and lower edges, but in a mirrored or alternating pattern.
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The arms on this stamp correspond to those attributed to the Dutch van Veeren family: Azure, three bendlets argent. Such arms are mentioned in armorial sources as familiewapen. The presence of a coronet and supporters reflect social standing and heraldic usage common among patrician families in the Low Countries, but do not constitute proof of formal ennoblement.
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The seal stamp bears the arms of Johann Heinrich Edler von Schüle, one of the most important textile entrepreneurs of 18th-century Germany. Born in 1720 in Künzelsau as the son of a nailsmith, Schüle rose through commercial training, technical innovation, and exceptional business skill. After settling in Augsburg, he transformed calico printing into a large-scale industrial enterprise, introducing copperplate printing and advanced dyeing methods. His fabrics, especially floral designs, were exported across Europe and worn at royal courts. At its height, his manufactory employed around 3,500 workers, nearly ten percent of Augsburg’s population. Despite conflicts with the local weavers’ guild over imported raw materials, Schüle was supported by Emperor Joseph II, who valued his economic contributions. In 1772, he was raised to the hereditary nobility with the title Edler (Nobleman) von Schüle. His coat of arms was displayed on his factory complex near the Red Gate. Schüle died in 1811, leaving a lasting legacy in European industrial history.
Johann Heinrich Schüle, oil on canvas, 1772
Arms of Johann Heinrich Schüle
Johann Heinrich Schüle's Katico Factory
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This is the seal stamp of Eugène-Casimir Villatte d'Outremont (or Oultremont) and Marie Augustine de Salmon. Eugène was Baron of Oultremont and the the 1st Count of Oultremont in 1819. Born in 1770, he fought in the French army during the Wars of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to command a division at many of the important battles in the Peninsular War. During the Hundred Days, Villatte remained loyal to the Bourbons. After the Restoration, he served as Inspector General of Infantry and as commander of various military divisions. In the family of Marie Augustine, an important member was Charles-Louis Salmon du Châtelier, who served as Bishop of Évreux from 1822 until his death. We can notice a discrepancy in Eugène's arms engraved on the seal and those recorded in archives, on which the two white horizontal elements represent defensive walls, while two towers are depicted on the seal. The motto "Moi Franc sans Dol", which appears to have been used by both families, can be translated to "I, honest and without falsehood”.
Eugène-Casimir Villatte has had two different coats of arms. Arms of Baron d'Outremont and of the Empire (1808): Tiercé en fasce, d’azur, de sinople et d’or ; l’azur à trois flèches posées en bande, d’or ; le sinople, à deux rangs de fortifications d’argent ; l’or, au cheval gai galopant, de sable. Franc-quartier des barons militaires brochant au 9e de l’écu (Reproduced here). When he became Count of the Empire in 1814, the arms were changed to: Coupé d’argent et de sinople ; l’argent à trois tours d’argent rangées en fasce ; le sinople, à un cavalier portant cuirasse et casque, tout d’or, monté sur un cheval d’argent pommelé de sable, tenant de la main dextre une épée d’argent, le bras gauche chargé d’un bouclier d’or portant en abîme un V de sable. Couronne de comte. Supports : deux lions. Devise : Moi, franc sans dol (Armorial historique et généalogique de Lorraine, 1882). On the seal stamp we can see as supporters one lion (Villatte) and one greyhound (de Salmon).
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This stamp is said to have belonged to Nicolas Deslandes, a shipbuilder of the Grandville Harbour in Normandy, France. Grandville sits on the coast of the English Channel. The interesting part in the coat of arms is certainly the canon. Nicolas Deslandes made his fortune by founding a shipbuilding company in 1768, which played a significant role during the American War of Independence. His services earned him nobility in 1783, when he received the title of Ecuyer, Squire in English, a title below Knight.
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This family coat of arms on this - rather low quality - seal stamp can be described as: Azure, a fess Or, charged with 3 shells. The origin of this stamp is unknown, but a family that had a similar crest was the Juchault family, originating from Brittany. The family formed several branches, of which only the des Jamonières branch remains. The others are the de Lamoricière branch, and the de Blottereau branch. Among the personalities of the family were Louis-Marie Juchault, Lord of Jamonières, (1769-1842) and Baron of the Empire, and Christophe Louis Léon Juchault de Lamoricière (1806-1865), who was general, diplomat, and politician, governor-general of Algeria, Minister of War, and ambassador of France to Russia. These faraway posts may explain the presence of scallop shells, which in heraldry, often symbolize pilgrimage and travel. They can also represent protection, divine grace, and faithful service.
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The shield on this stamp is party per pale, featuring two distinct halves. The lower part of the dexter side shows a pattern consistent with vair, a heraldic fur depicted as alternating bell-like shapes. This was a symbol of nobility and high status. The upper part shows a plant issuing from the ground. The sinister side shows three birds on corn stalks. This association could reflect a marriage between an old noble house (vair side) and a landed or agrarian family, potentially from France, northern Italy, or Belgium.
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This antique seal stamp belonged to a family member of Jean Philibert de Constantin, who held the noble title of Marquis de Chanay. He was a member of the Constantin family, a noble lineage associated with the region of Chanay in the Ain department of France. The family owned the castle of Dorches (Château de Dorches), a medieval fortress located in Chanay, which they acquired around 1740. The château's origins date back to the early 12th century, and it has been recognized as a historical monument. Only ruins of the castle remain nowadays. The family belongs to the nobility of Bugey. It was honorably known in this region as early as the 17th century. After the Revolution, the Constantin de Chanay family settled in Dauphiné following the marriage of its head with Marie de Meffray.
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The engraving on this stamp is particularly elegant. The shield is engraved with arms described as "Azure, nine silver crosses (4-3-2)", which corresponds to those of the family du Bouillonney (also spelled Bouillonnay or Bouillonné). The family belongs to the ancient nobility of Normandy. Some information can be found in the Carrés d’Hozier held at the Cabinet des Titres. Jean du Bouillonney was living in 1420. The lineage goes back to a Richard du Bouillonney who married Jeanne du Mesnil-Froger, heiress to the lordship of La Boutonnière in the 15th century. Their son was ennobled in 1470 by virtue of the charter of francs-fiefs and newly acquired lands. The family produced two Knights of Malta (René du Bouillonney de la Boutonnière in 1596 and François du Bouillonney in 1643), a Gentleman of the King’s Chamber, numerous military officers, and Knights of Saint Louis, but it was not a titled family.
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This is a seal stamp bought from Austria. The coat of arms shows a double-headed eagle which can symbolize the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Nowadays, the double-headed eagle is not used anymore in modern Austria. Indeed, the country's coat of arms now features a single-headed eagle. The double-headed eagle was a prominent symbol of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and, before that, the Holy Roman Empire, of which Austria was a central part. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was a multinational empire in Central and Eastern Europe that existed from 1867 to 1918, and was one of the major powers of Europe, spanning much of modern-day Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, parts of Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Italy, and the Balkans. After the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, Austria adopted the single-headed eagle. In today's heraldry, the double-headed eagle is still used in a few countries, particularly those with historical ties to the Byzantine or the Holy Roman Empire, such as Russia, Serbia, Albania, or Montenegro.
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It is not possible to identify the owners of this stamp, since several families of Europe have a coat of arms "Or, a cross Azure", such as the French de Breteuil family, the Bohun of Midhurst family, a cadet branch of the House of Bohun, in England, or the Telio family in Italy. Even the municipality of Novigrad in Croatia has such arms.
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This is an old seal stamp crafted by Célestin Nanteuil Gravure, in Grenoble. Célestin Nanteuil was a notable French engraver, known for his exquisite work in the field of engraving. The arms belonged to Jean-Baptiste Blondeau, a French civil servant and technical administrator active in the first half of the 19th century, a period marked by the reorganization of borders and institutions following the Revolution and the Napoleonic era. He is best known for his role in the fixing and documentation of the French-Swiss frontier, a task requiring precision, legal expertise, and detailed knowledge of local geography. In contemporary sources he is styled chevalier, a designation which, in this context, reflects an honorary or merit-based distinction rather than hereditary nobility. Jean-Baptiste Blondeau bore a coat of arms blazoned "coupé de gueules et d’azur, à la fasce ondée d’or, en chef une losange d’or, en pointe un croissant de même". Documented in armorial sources, these arms were already those of Pierre Blondeau, born in 1595, an ancestor of the better known Blondeau-Charnage family line.
Jean Alexandre Blondeau
The coat of arms of Chevalier Blondeau
Arms of the Blondeau family
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This is a seal stamp of the French family Camusat de Riancey. The Camusat family originates from the Champagne region and was ennobled in 1709. It descends from long-established residents of Troyes and remained deeply loyal to the French monarchy, particularly the Bourbon dynasty. The branch known as the Counts and Viscounts of Riancey is now extinct. Three main lines can be identified: the Camusat de Riancey et de Rilly line, the Camusat de Villiers, de Bellombre et de Vaugourdon line, and the Camusat des Carrets et de Busserolles line. Their coats of arms—Azure, a chevron Or between three ram's heads Argent—appear to be similar across the branches, though there may have been slight variations. On this particular seal stamp, for example, the chevron appears to be Argent rather than Or. Renowned French writer Henry de Montherlant was the son of Joseph-Marie Millon de Montherlant and Marguerite Camusat de Riancey.
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Henri-Léon Camusat de Riancey
Joseph de Montherlant and Marguerite de Riancey
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Marguerite Camusat de Riancey
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Another wax sealing stamp that produced a nice surprise. When it arrived from Italy, the coat of arms was not easy to analyze. But after some cleaning using an ultrasound machine, it revealed a nice engraving. This seal likely belonged to a bourgeois or newly ennobled family, active during the late 18th or early 19th century. The coat of arms can be interpreted as: In chief, a beehive between two lions holding tools; in base, a fess above three stars and a flower.
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This is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastic seal stamp, which belonged to Gervais-Joseph Ortric, Bishop of Pamier, in Ariège, France, from 1835 until his death in 1845. On the shield, we can see a lamb passant, bearing a Christian banner. This is the Agnus Dei, or "Lamb of God", a central Christian symbol representing Christ as the sacrificial lamb. Above the lamb is a radiant star or sunburst, symbolizing divine light, often interpreted as the presence of God or the Holy Spirit. At the top is a galero, the traditional ecclesiastical hat used in heraldry to indicate clerical rank, a bishop, in this case. Gervais-Joseph Ortric (1788–1845), born in Montpellier, was ordained a priest in 1813 and became vicar general before his episcopal appointment under King Louis-Philippe. As bishop, he devoted himself to reorganizing diocesan institutions and promoting religious education in the Ariège region.
Coat of arms of Gervais-Joseph Ortric, Bishop of Pamiers
Monseigneur Gervais-Joseph Ortric
Catechism of the diocese of Pamiers
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This is likely the only seal stamp in the collection with an octagonal base. It may seem like a small detail, but it adds a touch of uniqueness. The provenance of the stamp remains uncertain, and I have not yet identified the family to which this coat of arms belongs. It may be blazoned as: Azure, a stag passant, in chief three mullets of five points; the shield ensigned with a count's coronet and supported by two griffins rampant.
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This wax sealing stamp belonged to a member of the de Chaponay family, an extinct family of the French nobility. The lineage ended in 1956 when Antoine de Chaponay died without leaving a male heir, and, for the female line, in 2019 when his daughter Henryane passed away. The Chaponay family has a complex genealogy. The Lords of Chaponay were titled Marquis de Chaponay-Morancé. Under the engraved shield of the family, we can see the medal of the Order of St Lazarus. The Order of Saint Lazarus is one of the most ancient of the European orders of chivalry, dating back to the time of the Crusader knights. From its foundation in the 12th century, the members of the Order have been dedicated to two ideals: aid to those suffering from the disease of leprosy and the defense of the Christian faith.
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Following some research in the Armorial General of France, we learn that the arms engraved on this seal stamp were registered by Agnès Pocquelin, who married Pierre de Loynes, lord of Parassy. Her arms are different than the arms of the Pocquelin family. This suggests that the registration under her maiden name, Poquelin, aligns with the practices of the time, where women's arms were recorded under their own family names. The entry in question likely pertains to a Madame Poquelin, wife of Pierre de Loyne, who registered her arms as “Sable, a fess Or”. The Armorial Général de France, initiated by Louis XIV and overseen by Charles-René d’Hozier, was not merely a heraldic registry but also a fiscal measure. Individuals and entities were required to register their coats of arms and pay a fee, effectively making it a tax scheme. It is not uncommon to find multiple coats of arms associated with the same surname.​
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This old seal stamp was sold to me from the Netherlands as belonging to the French family de Charpentier, Lords of Chavagnac. The coat of arms is "Azure, a chevron Or between two crescents in chief and a rose in base". The de Charpentier family is known since 1315. The lords of Chavagnac are the descendants of Rigaud de Charpentier.
Gerry's Collection of Antique Seal Stamps.