File:Modern Russian flax seal (FindID 971940).jpg

English: A Post Medieval Russian flax bale seal from Archangel dating to 1861

The lead seal is a thick disc with two horizontal perforations running through the centre from edge to edge to accommodate a cord or wire which would have been used to attach the seal to a bale of flax.

It reads: [A]PX. Б[...] / ДECЯT / AHДP[...] / [..]H[...]HЯ on one face and [...]ЯEHЬ / KPOHЬ / 2" COPTЪ / Я. K./ 1861 on the reverse.

[A]PX. Б[...] (Archangel) / ДECЯT​​​​​​​ (Quality Control Officer)/ AHДP[...] / [..]H[...]HЯ (unclear name)

[...]ЯEHЬ (unclear) / KPOHЬ (Broken part of Flax after heckling) / 2" COPTЪ (second inspection)/ Я. K. (Initials of the previous Grower/Owner/Agent)/ 1861 (date) (based on <a href="http://www.peacehavens.co.uk/BSTYPES.htm#CODEMOVE01">http://www.peacehavens.co.uk/BSTYPES.htm#CODEMOVE01</a>)

It is 27.5mm in diameter with a thickness of 6.9mm and a weight of 23.14g.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries Russia was a prominent exporter of flax Lead bale seals were used as a means of identification and as a component of regulation and quality control. Russian seals of this type were used as a means to monitor and ensure the quality of flax hemp products from Russia. They were applied individually by a port inspector and gave unique information like the inspector's name, the post where they worked, the name of the port, the initials of the previous grower/owner or agent, the quality and grade of the flax and the date it was graded (Sullivan 2000:211-227).