This 19th-century wax seal travel set was used in the 19th Century to close personal letters with hot wax. This set offered ready-to-use seals with several apt, often humorous, mottos that could be selected depending on the content or receiver of that specific letter.
This brass etui has been intricately worked on all four sides. Inside are six brass double-sided seals, giving twelve seals to use in total. These mottos depicted are:
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- A dog resting by a grave: Le temps passe, L'amitie reste' (time passes, friendship remains) / A ship in stormy water: 'Telle est la vie' (such if life).
- A flying swallow: 'Le froid me chasse' (the cold chases me away)/ Mardi (Tuesday).
- A bird flying from its cage: 'Qui me Neglige, me Perd' (who Neglects me, loses me) / a race between two horses: 'Lequel?' (which one?).
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A quill 'Toujours Sincere’ (always sincere) / An envelope: 'Allez Heureuze!' (go merrily!)
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Cupid riding/taming the devil / a running dog, carrying a letter: 'Va Vite' (go fast).
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A running dog with a letter in its mouth: 'Je suis pressé' (I'm in a hurry) / A fox and a stork with his beak in a tall jar, 'Chacun son tour' (each his turn). This seal refers to a famous French tale in which a fox and stork invite each other for dinner: at the fox's house, the food is served in a shallow plate, which the stork cannot use: when the stork invites the fox to dinner, she serves it in a tall jar so the fox cannot reach the food, which is depicted here.
- A dog resting by a grave: Le temps passe, L'amitie reste' (time passes, friendship remains) / A ship in stormy water: 'Telle est la vie' (such if life).
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 60 x 16 x 14 mm. Each seal measures 10 x 8 mm.
Weight: 18 grams
Age: 19th Century, circa 1840s.
Material: Brass.
Condition: In good antique condition, with only minor signs of wear, consistent with age.