Claudio Ernesto Mario Manzati
Country: Italy
Author: Federico Borromeo
Title in the original language: Sigilli chiudilettera 1820-1860
Title translated into English: Adhesive wafer seals 1820-1860
Publisher: Milano, Post Horn
Year of publication: 2026
ISBN Code: 979-12-985868-1-9
Number of pages: 410
Price: € 100
Main language: Italian / English
Short Description: A poorly-known aspect of postal history – and certainly not a minor one, given the long-standing interest in maintaining the confidentiality of one’s correspondence. This volume aims to take a curious look at the secret world of letter seals. A niche collecting interest that highlights ‘the other side of the letter’. In Italian, the term ‘sigillo’ (seal) refers both to the instrument used for sealing and to the imprint created by that process. For example, from the Middle Ages onwards, a wax seal. Later, in the more peaceful times following the Napoleonic Wars, seals modelled on cameos were introduced in England. As these were too expensive, they were soon replaced by seals made of paper or other, less commonly used materials. The period from the early 19th century to 1860 marked the golden age for the use of letter seals. To organise this vast subject, a classification system has been established covering the following themes: cameo-style designs, mottos and aphorisms, heraldry, the days of the week, names and initials, portraits of famous figures, floral and animal motifs, famous monuments and landscapes, religious and moral propaganda, commercial and advertising motifs, shorthand, and miscellaneous subjects.
Where to order: board@posthornmagazine,com or claudio.manzati@lean-instituteitalia.com