Leeds Bale Seal - found in South Carolina

[HistoryUnearthed]

Went on a hunt this last weekend and found this bale seal. Great design. I did some research, but can't find a match. I believe a cotton bale seal. Inscribed marks on the back may be for quality control purposes. Any help on ID would be appreciated. Was a colonial site where items dating back to the 1600-1700's have been found.

 

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[civilman1]

Sounds cool. Pictures are not coming through

 

[HistoryUnearthed]

Sounds cool. Pictures are not coming through

Just fixed the orientation. Should be coming through now.

 

[toasted]

I think thats a cloth seal actually. Nice find

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Awesome Bale seal, congrats!

 

[lairmo]

I see Smith & Co. Leeds and IND....

 

[lairmo]

Possibly some info..

IDK: https://www.waynet.org/facts/history.htm

 

[A2coins]

Thats a beauty Well done

 

[Organicseekers]

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth-oai:k643c774z

I believe its Hind, Smith and Co from Leeds England

 

[Whyme]

Very cool seal! Looks like Organicseekers nailed it! Congrats on the great find!

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[Tony in SC]

I have found that seals were used in trade going both ways. Some companies would have an agent here in SC to place a seal at harvest or shipping time to insure quality and quantity were correct for the trip back.

 

[HistoryUnearthed]

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth-oai:k643c774z

I believe its Hind, Smith and Co from Leeds England

Thank you Organicseeker, I think you have shed some light on this. Any idea on time period?

 

[Rubka888]

Cool! Looks like a cloth seal to me. And a very cool one!

 

[OreElse]

That's very cool, nice find!

 

[Inspector]

That's a nice looking seal, congrats on the save

 

[Yak1366]

Very nice find, Congrats!!!

 

[CRUSADER]

The sheep is the clue. Leeds industrial revolution was built on Wool. So its a bale of either raw wool or more likely woolen fabric. Because the incised numbers on the reverse are meant to show how many yards were bound by the seal.

PS. Techniquely its a 'Cloth' Seal, rather than a bale/bag type.

 

[Relicific]

That’s s beauty

 

[lairmo]

Just revisited this thread nice ID OS!!!