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seal
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seal Conrad III
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Related Topics:
great seal
signet
seal engraving
kangōfu
privy seal
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seal
seal Wax seal on an envelope.

seal

authentication
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History

seal, in documentation, an impression made by the impact of a hard engraved surface on a softer material such as wax or clay, producing a device in relief. Seals have been used since remote antiquity to authenticate documents. The study of seals, known as sigillography, is a major historical discipline.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.