We illustrate (left) examples of the seals of George III for the original state, 1st recut (1769), 2nd recut (1776), 3rd recut (1782), and 4th recut (1790). The recut is indicated by the horizontal line engraved to the left of the Crown, the number of lines showing the actual recut (eg one line, two, three or four).
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The King George I
plate 1, die 1 - seal No. 1 |
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King George II seal No.
113 - note the '2'
between the G and the R |
We illustrate several of the types that can be collected, and it should be noted that all examples feature a monogram design. Examples shown are George I, seal No 1 (ie. top left of sheet); George II, seal No 113, note the '2' between G & R; George III, five seals showing the five recut states; and George III, seal No 573 Irish in Red - note '3' is incorporated within the monogram. For Queen Victoria issues we show the original copper plate printing (seal 436), the Perkins, Bacon Co. steel plate printing (seal CA) and the De La Rue surface printed seal in pale grey. For completeness we show examples of the 20th century King Edward VII and King George V seals.
Where can one go from here? It would seem possible to collect one of each identifiable cypher seal, and the numbers to be collected aren't that high. Adding up those listed in the Barber, Brown book, we arrive at 89 for William III, 374 for Queen Anne, 640 for George I, 1,280 for George II, 2,880 for George III, 960 for George IV, 1,649 for Queen Victoria, 4 for Edward VII, and only one for King George V. This provides a total of 7,877 seals! To this total could be added the Irish seals. To complicate the story further, Barber and Brown list seals issued in New Zealand, New South Wales and Queensland (we have examples from all these countries), who copied the British system when using parchment for documents. They are scarce. Barber and Brown postulate that other colonies used paper rather than parchment, and then there is not the need to use a tin foil strip, nor a cypher seal. Indeed we have seen no cypher seals from other countries.
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| Top Row, From Left: KGIII Irish seal No. 573 in red - note '3' is incorporated within the monogram; The Queen Victoria original copper plate printing - seal 436; The Perkins Bacon Queen Victoria steel plate printing, seal CA
Bottom Row, From Left: Queen Victoria De La Rue surface printed seal in pale grey; King Edward VII seal (1901-1911); The King George V seal (1911-1919) |
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