Lamson Library is Sealed

It’s a little known fact. Since the Medieval Fair on campus last spring, there have been ancient seals on display at Lamson Library. Although the Medieval Fair was last year, the display looks so good, the library staff agreed to keep it up. The seals on display in Lamson are from universities, guilds, religious organizations, and kingdoms from all over Europe, ranging from Charlemagne’s seal in 774 A.D. to the seal of Canterbury Cathedral in 1418 A.D. In the past, seals were attached to documents to guarantee authenticity. A proclamation bearing the seal of a king meant it was a royal decree, and had not been forged. The Guide to Seals in the Public Record Office by Sir Hilary Jenkinson, London, H.M. Stationary Off. says that “Medieval seals were made in England with one material only- true sealing wax, consisting of about two-thirds beeswax to one-third of some kind of resin.” Seals were used throughout Europe, and even Asia. They have been made from many materials other than sealing wax, including wood, metal, and precious stone, like jade. The seals at Lamson Library are not originals. Most are replications made of wax from the private collection of Alexander and Julia Weber. This couple posses what may well be the most extensive collection of ancient seals in the United States. Because of the way the replications were made, they appear as mirror images of the original. Some of the more interesting seals on display, in addition to the aforementioned, is the seal of Richard the Lionheart, 1195, of Robin Hood lore, and the University of Vienna, Austria of 1345. Although there seem to be no plans to remove the display anytime in the immediate future, it is recommended to take a few minutes, drop by the library for something other than to get material the night before a paper is due, and admire a small piece of history.