Gerry's Collection
of Antique Wax Seal Stamps
The Wooden Collection
The wax seal stamps are regrouped in various sections to easily explore the collection.
Seal stamp engraved with the coat of arms of the alliance of Marshal of France Louis de Conflans, Marquis of Armentières, and Marie Charlotte de Senneterre (or Saint-Nectaire). The engraving includes the collar of the Order of the Holy Spirit, set upon crossed batons of the marshals of France. Louis de Conflans (1711-1774) was a French general. He was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1746 and was made a Marshal of France in 1768. He was the son of Michel III de Conflans, Marquis of Armentières, first gentleman of the chamber to the Duc d'Orléans and of Diane Gabrielle de Jussac, lady of the palace to the Duchesse de Berry, then dame de compagnie to the Duchesse d'Orléans. In 1770, he married Marie-Charlotte de Senneterre, granddaughter of Jean Charles de Saint-Nectaire.
This is a beautifully engraved wax seal stamp. Its well-balanced design strongly suggests a British or Italian origin. The supporters on this coat of arms are greyhounds. In heraldry, greyhounds symbolize specific qualities associated with these animals. Traditionally, greyhounds are admired for their loyalty. A greyhound is known for being a loyal companion, making it a fitting emblem for steadfastness and faithfulness. Nobility and Elegance is other meaning of their presence in a coat of arms.
This interesting and rather rare seal stamp made of oak and silver belonged to a high-ranking military officer. The shape is beautiful and unusual, with the letter H as the top inlaid. The upper rim shows the name E B Herbert, 17th Lancers, and Oct 21, 1901. The seal itself shows the alliance coat of arms of the Herbert and the Acton families. Edward Bleiddian (E.B.) Herbert was bord in 1858 in Wales. He married Hon. Mary Elizabeth Anne Dalberg-Acton, daughter of John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton of Aldenham and Maria Anna Ludmilla Euphrosina von und zu Arco auf Valley, on 21 October 1901. He gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the service of the 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own).
Old is beautiful. This stamp came from France. The handle is so worn out that we can only wonder how many times it was used to seal a document. Even the engraving is a little bit uneasy to analyze. When looking at the chevron before to clean the matrix a bit, I thought it was Argent. But it could also be Or. Difficult to say. Interesting addition to the collection.
This interesting stamp of the 1820s is from Hungary. The three Vert (Heraldic green) hills at the base of the coat of arms, surmounted by a crown and a swan, represent the mountains Tátra, Mátra, and Fátra, and are also depicted in the coat of arms of Hungary. The stamp is from a member of the Kiszely family, which was from Benesat (Hungarian: Benedekfalva), in Romania. Historically, a significant part of modern-day Romania was part of the Kingdom of Hungary. The Hungarian nobility can be traced back to the foundation of the Kingdom in 1000 AD under King Stephen I, but came to an end after World War II and the establishment of a communist regime in Hungary. However, many Hungarian families with noble heritage continued to preserve their cultural traditions and history privately. (Ai)
An old looking stamp is still very beautiful. It means that the stamp travelled through decades, or sometimes centuries, and carries lots of history. Old looking stamps can actually look nicer, more interesting and more important than the perfect shiny ones. Question of taste, of course. This one comes from Austria.
The coat of arms of this stamp shows an arm, the hand holding a sword, emerging from a cloud. We can't see a sleeve covering the arm, which means that, in this case, the arm is "proper". Proper means that it is depicted in its natural color. The hand emerging from a cloud might represent divine justice or strength granted by God. (Ai)
This stamp belonged to a member of the Desmarets family, the Marquis of Maillebois. Genealogical research can be fascinating and provides valuable insights into historic noble families. The round shield in this engraving suggests that this stamp belonged to a lady of the Marquis of Maillebois' family, possibly Madeleine Béchameil de Nointel, who was married to the 2nd Marquis of Maillebois, Nicolas Desmarets (1648–1721). Together, they had five sons and six daughters, so the stamp may have been passed down through one of them. However, I personally find it very unlikely that it could have survived for 300 years. So, the stamp could have also belonged to Louise Marie Emmanuelle de Tourzel d'Alègre, who married Jean-Baptiste II, Marshal of Maillebois and 3rd Marquis of Maillebois (1682–1762). She was the youngest daughter of Marquis Yves V of Allègre. When she married Jean-Baptiste-François Desmarets, Marquis of Maillebois, she became the Marquise of Maillebois. Together, they had one son and three daughters. Another possibility is that this stamp belonged to Marie-Madeleine de Voyer d'Argenson, who was married to Yves-Marie Desmarets, the 4th Marquis of Maillebois and Marshal of France (1715–1792). Yves-Marie was initially referred to as the Count of Maillebois.
Marie-Emmanuelle de Tourzel
Wax seal stamp engraved with the Desmarets family coat of arms
Yves-Marie Desmarets
Jean-Baptiste-Francois Desmarets
Alliance coat of arms of Desmarets and de Tourzel d'Alègre families
Nicolas Desmarets
The engraving of this interesting stamp features the coat of arms of Jacques Defermon des Chapelieres (1752–1831), who was Count of the Empire (1808) and Minister of State. The name was also spelled as (de) Fermon or (de) Fermond. The coat of arms is described as: "Ermine, a wild apple tree Sable, the sinister half with leaves and apples Argent, the dexter half with leaves and apples Or; a canton of a count-minister". In First Empire heraldry under Napoleon (1804–1815), a canton (or franc-quartier) was a small square positioned in the upper left corner (dexter chief) of the shield. It was used as a mark of distinction, for members of the newly established Napoleonic nobility. A Count-Minister was a noble title granted to high-ranking ministers of state. Their coat of arms included a specific heraldic augmentation: A canton charged with a lion's head erased Or. What makes this stamp unusual is the small wax compartment hidden in its handle, concealed by a screw-on cap. Additionally, the matrix bears the name Thénard. Ferdinand Thénard (1823–1889) was a French chiseler engraver and sculptor, though little information is available about him. Since Jacques Defermon des Chapelieres passed away when Ferdinand Thénard was still very young, it is likely that this particular stamp was made by one of Ferdinand's descendants.
One of the fascinating aspects of collecting antique seal stamps is that - even when the exact owner remains unidentified - they still offer insights into history. While consulting the Armorial Général de France, I came across a coat of arms bearing similarities to the one on this stamp: the arms of René Gaillard, lord of Charentonneau (or Charantonneau). Although we often assume that the owner of a château such as Charentonneau would be noble, René Gaillard was not. He acquired the estate in 1671. The château itself was a seigneurial residence, signifying local authority and landownership, but not necessarily noble status. René Gaillard was, nonetheless, a significant landowner. Notably, this stamp bears no engraved crown, so if we are to speculate, it may well have belonged to one of his descendants. Who knows...
This is a silver seal bearing the arms of the Belgian Lalaing family. The Lalaing family is an ancient aristocratic family from the south of Flanders, whose members played an important role in the history of the County of Hainaut and of the Netherlands.
The family Lalaing belongs to the most prominent Belgian noble families and descends from Gérard, Lord of Forest, mentioned ca. 1130. His grandson Simon, Lord of Lalaing, is mentioned between 1178 and 1184. Charles de Lalaing (1466-1525) of the elder branch uses as of 1522 the title Count. His younger son Philip de Lalaing becomes Count of Hoogstraten. Thanks to his wedding to Anne, Countess of Renneberg, daughter of William, Count of Rennenberg and Anne of Culemborg, Philip's descendants inherited multiple important lands and titles. His descendance however died out in the male line in 1698. The present counts de Lalaing descend from Antoine de Lalaing (1480-1540) a younger brother of Charles. Maximilien de Lalaing (1677-1756) married Catherine L'Archier, Countess of Thildonck. Their great grandson Charles de Lalaing, Count of Thildonck (1768-1816) was created a Count on 13-3-1816.​
Drawing of Simon de Lalaing
The coat of arms of the Lalaing family
Philip de Lalaing, Count of Hoogstraten
Antoine de Lalaing and Elisabeth van Culemborg
Engraving of the Lalaing family arms
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Simon_de_Lalaing (1405-1477)
This wax seal stamp is another beautiful and finely crafted object. The polished walnut wood handle is very elegant. The engraved arms show a dove volant (flying dove) flying above a landscape, and holding an olive branch, which is a strong symbol of peace, Holy Spirit, or divine favor. The oval shield suggests this seal belonged to a noblewoman, a countess in this case. I have yet to identify which family has such a coat of arms. (Ai)
This stamp is engraved with the arms of the French d'Andreossy family. Notably, the engraving features lictor's fasces (faisceau de licteur) above the crown, an unusual element in French noble heraldry. The fasces depict a bundle of rods bound together with a ribbon or cords, an axe emerging from the bundle. It originates from ancient Rome where it symbolized magisterial authority and power. In France, it later became associated with First French Republic, representing civic unity and strength through collective action. Despite this republican symbolism, some French nobles serving as a high-ranking magistrate, governor, or military commander could have incorporated the fasces to signify a role in upholding royal justice. This was the case for Antoine-François, Count of Andréossy (1761–1828), who was an army general, diplomat, and parliamentarian. Some nobles who served under Napoleon’s First French Empire (1804–1814) incorporated the fasces into their heraldry, as it became a widely used imperial symbol. The Andreossy family was originally from Italy, where the use of the lictors' fasces is broader than in France because of its Roman origins. But the original family coat of arms did not include it. The stamp could have belonged to Victor Antoine Andréossy (1747-1819), who was a French general of the revolution and the Empire.
Lictor's fasces in an image of the revolution
Arms of Andreossy depicting the lictor's fasces
A Roman lictor, bearer of the fasces
The absence of a coronet or supporters in the coat of arms engraved on this stamp might indicate a knightly or untitled noble family. But the beautifully turned wooden handle with a screw-base compartment makes it rather interesting. This craftsmanship and form suggest that it was likely made for personal use, not mass-produced. Judging by the grain, tone, and figure, the wood appears to be boxwood, a fine, dense hardwood favored in the 18th and 19th centuries for small turned objects like seal handles.
This stamp bears the arms of the de Bessuéjouls family. The genealogy of this now-extinct noble house traces back to Nize de Bessuéjouls, born in 1209. The oval shape of the shield may suggest that it belonged to a female family member, possibly Françoise Rose de Bessuéjouls, who was known as Mademoiselle de Roquelaure. The families de Bessuéjouls and de Bessuéjouls de Roquelaure are historically connected, the latter representing a cadet or elevated branch that emerged when a member of the Bessuéjouls family acquired the seigneury of Roquelaure. A notable figure of this line was Jean-Armand de Bessuéjouls de Roquelaure (1721–1818), who was appointed Archbishop of Mechelen in the Austrian Netherlands (now Belgium). In heraldic sources, the family's arms appear with either an Or (gold) or Argent (silver) field, a variation that may reflect branch distinctions or later modifications, possibly introduced to mark elevation in rank or a shift in lineage.
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Jean-Armand de Bessuéjouls Roquelaure
1721-1818
Seal stamp engraved with the arms of the
family de Bessuéjouls
Jean Armand de Bessuéjouls de Roquelaure,
Archbishop of Malines
This handle of this seal stamp shows clear signs of age and was probably used intensively. The engraving presents elements that make attribution challenging. The crest - two eagle wings elevated and addorsed - suggests a German origin. However, on the fess, there appears to be a female Moor’s head, which is more often encountered in countries such as France, Italy, and occasionally Spain. The stars in chief and base are fairly common charges across Europe, serving to further complicate definitive attribution without additional context.
This seal bears the arms of the Chavigny family, from Burgundy. The main line of the family became extinct by the late 17th century. Titles associated with them, such as Chastenay and Toulongeon, were transmitted and passed through marriage alliances. One of the most noted members was Jean de Chavigny, secretary of Michel de Nostredame (Nostradamus). He played a key role in preserving his master's prophecies. The most prominent figure was Claude de Chavigny, Baron de Chastenay and Comte de Toulongeon. Under Louis XIII, he served as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Though the main Chavigny line has since died out, their heraldic legacy endured. The arms of Chavigny were incorporated into those of the Gravier family, through the marriage of Jean Gravier, marquis de Vergennes and Jeanne Chevignard de Chavigny. Their parti (per pale) coat of arms indeed reflects this union, bearing the Chavigny arms alongside their own.
Théodore Chevignard de Chavigny
Wax seal stamp of the Chavigny family, from Burgundy
Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes
This simple yet elegant seal stamp features a round escutcheon, indicating that it likely belonged to a woman of noble rank. The coat of arms displays a gold field (Or), a green mount (Vert) and two lions in combatant posture. The lions, shown facing each other with forepaws raised, symbolize courage, strength, and noble rivalry. The oval shield is crowned with the coronet of a count, composed of pearls on raised points, confirming the bearer’s comital dignity. More research is needed, however, to find out to whom the stamp belonged.
According to the accompanying note, this beautiful seal stamp was evidently cherished and preserved by a nephew or niece of Lieutenant Gabriel Vétillard du Ribert (1840–1902), who enlisted in the Zouaves Pontificaux (Papal Zouaves) in 1862.
He was awarded the “Fidei et Virtuti” (Faith and Courage) and “Pro Petri Sede” (For the See of Peter) medals, both pontifical military decorations recognizing distinguished service. He was also named a Chevalier of the Order of Pius IX, a papal honor granted for notable merit, whether civil or military. The Zouaves Pontificaux were a volunteer corps, primarily composed of French, Belgian, Dutch, and French-Canadian Catholics. The force of the Pontifical Zouaves was established in 1861 to defend the Papal States under Pope Pius IX against the forces of Italian unification and Garibaldi's troops.
Lieutenant Gabriel Vétillard du Ribert
Zouaves pontificaux (Papal Zouaves) in 1865
Stamp and seal of Gabriel Vétillard du Ribert
To appreciate a particular antique wax seal stamp is a matter of taste. At times, I acquire a stamp not so much for the story behind the engraved coat of arms, but simply for the beauty of the object itself. In this case, I find the shape of the handle and the quality of the engraving appealing. Although I cannot identify the original owner, the craftsmanship is noteworthy. The crown corresponds to that of a marquess in English heraldry, while the shield takes the form of an “eared-top escutcheon,” a style popular in continental heraldry.
Although the handle of this seal stamp is not among the finest in the collection, its engraving is both highly interesting and rare. The coat of arms belongs to a branch of the Payen family, established by Maximilien François Joseph Payen (also spelled Paijen), who appears to have altered the family arms upon his marriage to Noble Dame Florence de Langhe d’Hoflande in 1725, thereby founding a new line. Maximilien François Joseph Payen was chevalier and baron de Lalleu, and held the seigneuries of La Béquière, Brebière, and Beaumont. The matrix of the stamp can be dated to the early 18th century, which makes it unusually early. Notably, it bears the very distinctive coronet of a “baron branbançon”, which is the heraldic coronet specific to a baron in Brabant (a duchy of the Low Countries, today divided between Belgium and the Netherlands), a feature that is exceedingly rare.
The distinctive coronet of a baron of the Duchy of Brabant
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Alliance of Maximilien Francois Joseph Payen and Florence de Langhe d'Hoflande in 1725
The arms of the branch of the Payen family, differenced by a quarterly division, and a coronet of Baron Branbançon
Registration of the coat of arms of Adrien Payen, (Departmental Archives of Pas-de-Calais)
This 19th century metal stamp from Germany is kept in a nice wooden case. While a finely turned case elevated the object from a purely utilitarian tool to a personal possession with a touch of refinement, its main purpose was to protect the seal. Storing it in a case prevented dust or grit from settling into the matrix, which could cause imperfect impressions or even scratches during the next use. Brass or steel matrices were prone to scratches, dents, and corrosion. The case prevented the engraving from being in contact with hard surfaces.
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The presence of the tower and the lion in this coat of arms strongly recalls Château Latour, an iconic heraldic emblem in wine history: Argent, a tower gules, masoned sable, surmounted by a lion passant guardant gules. Yet, while the tower-and-lion motif unmistakably evokes Latour, the shield on this stamp is gules (red). This difference suggests that, even if the stamp was sold as such, it more likely originates from a noble family unconnected with the world-renowned estate. Unlike many Bordeaux domains with deep aristocratic roots, Château Latour was not tied to a noble lineage but passed through various owners over time. The marquis’ coronet above the shield further supports the view that these arms may have belonged to a noble family distinct from Latour. Even so, this seal, indirectly, offers insight into the broader history surrounding Château Latour.
Gerry's Collection of Antique Seal Stamps.