Seal, bale seal

Russian lead alloy bale seal (also known as 'cloth seal'). On one side is the surname of the Quality Control Officer, Siniakov, who had been responsible for grading the bundle of flax or hemp to which the seal was attached. The reverse shows the initials 'NP' which indicates the port or town at which the seal originated but which at present has not been identified. The second line indicates the nature and quality of the contents of the bale with the figures 'M B 9 H (possibly Marienburg Badstube 9-Head, a designation of a type of second grade flax exported from Riga). The year '1812' indicates when the assessment was made, and is notable as the year when Russia was invaded by Napoleon. The seal was found on the Thames foreshore at Blackfriars.