149 - Set of stamps; France, 19th century.

Set of stamps; France, 19th century. Sealing wax. Measurements: 50 x 34 cm; 62 x 46 cm (frame). A collection of seal impressions in red sealing wax, arranged as a collection and presented in a frame. The impressions, made using dies engraved on wax, feature heraldic motifs, coats of arms, and identifying emblems, evoking the systems of representation and document validation characteristic of nineteenth-century Europe. During the 19th century, wax seals played a significant role in private correspondence, administrative documentation, and diplomatic and institutional communications. In addition to guaranteeing the authenticity and integrity of documents, they served as an expression of identity and prestige, especially among aristocratic families, ecclesiastical institutions, and socially prominent figures. This collection of wax impressions reflects historical and collector’s interest in sigillography, the discipline dedicated to the study of seals and their value as a record of political, social, and genealogical history.