"The royal seal or signet used by the Chaldean and Assyrian kings was in the form of a small cylinder, having figures and characters engraved in the surface. This cylinder when rolled upon wax or other plastic substance left the king's name and emblems set in relief upon the material used in sealing."

The Seal of Ilgi

"The royal seal or signet used by the Chaldean and Assyrian kings was in the form of a small cylinder,…

Also known as Polygonatum multiflorum. Consists of several peduncles and white flowers. They are commonly found in the Northern hemisphere.

Solomon's Seal

Also known as Polygonatum multiflorum. Consists of several peduncles and white flowers. They are commonly…

The seal used to symbolize the monarch's approval of important state documents.

Great Seal of England Under the Commonwealth

The seal used to symbolize the monarch's approval of important state documents.

A seal of the French Republic, 1792-1804.

Seal of the French Republic

A seal of the French Republic, 1792-1804.

The seal of the Council for New England, during the colonial era.

Seal of the Council for New England

The seal of the Council for New England, during the colonial era.

The seal of Sir Edmund Andros, the 3rd and 5th Royal Governor of colonial Maryland.

Great Seal of Andros

The seal of Sir Edmund Andros, the 3rd and 5th Royal Governor of colonial Maryland.

The seal of colonial New York, which was claimed by the British in 1664.

Seal of New York

The seal of colonial New York, which was claimed by the British in 1664.

The seal of colonial New Hampshire in 1629.

Seal of New Hampshire

The seal of colonial New Hampshire in 1629.

The seal of colonial Maryland, a British colony in 1632.

Seal of Maryland

The seal of colonial Maryland, a British colony in 1632.

The official seal of colonial Connecticut in 1635.

Seal of Connecticut

The official seal of colonial Connecticut in 1635.

The official seal of colonial Rhode Island in 1636.

Seal of Rhode Island

The official seal of colonial Rhode Island in 1636.

The official U.S. state seal of Vermont.

Seal of Vermont

The official U.S. state seal of Vermont.

The official U.S. state seal of Ohio.

Seal of Ohio

The official U.S. state seal of Ohio.

The official seal of the U.S. state of Alabama.

Seal of Alabama

The official seal of the U.S. state of Alabama.

The official seal of the U.S. state of Minnesota.

Seal of Minnesota

The official seal of the U.S. state of Minnesota.

The official U.S. state seal of West Virginia.

Seal of West Virginia

The official U.S. state seal of West Virginia.

The official state seal of Colorado.

Seal of Colorado

The official state seal of Colorado.

The ancient King of Akkad, reigning from 2270 BC to 2215 BC.

Seal of Sargon I

The ancient King of Akkad, reigning from 2270 BC to 2215 BC.

The official seal of Sir Thomas Lucy, a magistrate who persecuted recusant Catholic families. The seal consists of three white luces interlaced.

Seal of Sir Thomas Lucy

The official seal of Sir Thomas Lucy, a magistrate who persecuted recusant Catholic families. The seal…

"In the church of St. Mary, at Bury St. Edmunds, the ceiling of the eastern compartment of the south aisle, once the chantry of John Baret, is richly painted and diapered with beautifully drawn collars of SS, each collar enclosing the monogram of this zealous Lancastrian, I.B."—Aveling, 1891

Monogram of John Baret

"In the church of St. Mary, at Bury St. Edmunds, the ceiling of the eastern compartment of the south…

The heraldic badge of Edward V, the king of England in 1483.

Badge of Edward V

The heraldic badge of Edward V, the king of England in 1483.

The heraldic badge of Arthur Tudor, the son of King Henry VII of England.

Badge of Arthur Tudor

The heraldic badge of Arthur Tudor, the son of King Henry VII of England.

"De Bohun badge. From the central spandrel of the Canopy of the Brass to Alianore de Bohun, Duchess of Gloucester, A.D. 1399, in Westminster Abbey."—Aveling, 1891

De Bohun Badge

"De Bohun badge. From the central spandrel of the Canopy of the Brass to Alianore de Bohun, Duchess…

The rebus, or visual pun, of Bishop Oldham's badge.

Rebus of Bishop Oldham

The rebus, or visual pun, of Bishop Oldham's badge.

The heraldic badge of Abbot John de Wheathamstede. This badge has a rebus, or a visual pun representing his surname.

Badge of Abbot John de Wheathamstede

The heraldic badge of Abbot John de Wheathamstede. This badge has a rebus, or a visual pun representing…

The seal of the Bishop of Salisbury.

Bishop of Salisbury's Seal

The seal of the Bishop of Salisbury.

"The Star is the badge, first ordered by Charles I. The rays are of silver or diamonds. The star is worn on the left breast."—Aveling, 1891

Star of the Order of the Garter

"The Star is the badge, first ordered by Charles I. The rays are of silver or diamonds. The star is…

The heraldic seal of the Dauphin Louis in 1216.

Seal of the Dauphin Louis

The heraldic seal of the Dauphin Louis in 1216.

The heraldic seal of the archbishop of York, who worked under kings William II of England and Henry I of England.

Seal of Thurstan

The heraldic seal of the archbishop of York, who worked under kings William II of England and Henry…

The heraldic seal of Mauger le Vavassour.

Seal of Vavassour

The heraldic seal of Mauger le Vavassour.

The heraldic seal of Thomas Holland, KG, first Duke of Surrey.

Seal of Thomas Holland

The heraldic seal of Thomas Holland, KG, first Duke of Surrey.

"The Seal of Richard, Earl of Arundel, bears his achievement of arms. The supporters, crest, helm, etc., are as conspicuously drawn as the shield. The crest is large in proportion to the shield; it was usually thus represented in the compositions of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries."—Aveling, 1891

Seal of Richard, Earl of Arundel

"The Seal of Richard, Earl of Arundel, bears his achievement of arms. The supporters, crest, helm, etc.,…

The state banner of Indiana, the Hoosier state.

Indiana

The state banner of Indiana, the Hoosier state.

"Foot of the seal, which opens and closes in the act of natation, the organ being folded upon itself during the non-effective or return stroke, and expanded during the effective or forward stroke. Due advantage is taken of this arrangement by the seal when swimming, the animal rotating on its long axis, so as to present the lower portion of the body and the feet obliquely to the water during the return stroke, and the flat, or the greatest available surface of both, during the effective or forward stroke."—Pettigrew, 1874

Foot of Seal

"Foot of the seal, which opens and closes in the act of natation, the organ being folded upon itself…

"The seal, adapted principally for water. The extremities are larger than in the porpoise and manatee."—Pettigrew, 1874

The Seal

"The seal, adapted principally for water. The extremities are larger than in the porpoise and manatee."—Pettigrew,…

"The turtle, adapted for swimming and diving, the extremities being relatively larger than in the seal, sea-bear, and walrus. The anterior extremities have a thick anterior margin and a thin posterior one, and in this respect resemble wings."—Pettigrew, 1874

The Turtle

"The turtle, adapted for swimming and diving, the extremities being relatively larger than in the seal,…

Evonymus obovata has purplish flowers that bloom in May. The fruit of the shrub appears in August and September. It is native from Canada to Indiana and Kentucky.

Evonymus Obovata

Evonymus obovata has purplish flowers that bloom in May. The fruit of the shrub appears in August and…

Pictured are men plowing a sowing. This illustration is from a Babylonian seal impression from the 14th century, BCE.

Babylonian Seal Impression

Pictured are men plowing a sowing. This illustration is from a Babylonian seal impression from the 14th…

Indian cucumber root is the common name of <i>medeola virginiana</i>. The name comes from the taste of the edible root. It is native from Nova Scotia to Minnesota to Indiana and southward.

Indian Cucumber Root

Indian cucumber root is the common name of medeola virginiana. The name comes from the taste of the…

The common name of <i>nemopanthus</i> is mountain holly. The mucronata variety is native from Canada to Wisconsin, Indiana and Virginia. The shrub grows ten feet tall. The shrub blooms in May and June.

Nemopanthus Mucronata

The common name of nemopanthus is mountain holly. The mucronata variety is native from Canada to Wisconsin,…

This illustration shows a human leg (front view), and comparative diagrams showing modifications of the leg:
1. Human, 2. Ox, 3. Horse, 4. Bird, 5. Frog, 6. Crocodile, 7. Seal, 8. Dog, 9. Bear
P. Pelvis, FE. Femur, TI. Tibia, FI. Fibula, TA. Tarsus, MT. Metatarsus, PH. Phalanges, OC. Os Calcis.

Human Leg (Front View), and Comparative Diagrams showing Modifications of the Leg

This illustration shows a human leg (front view), and comparative diagrams showing modifications of…

This illustration shows the leg of a seal.
P. Pelvis, FE. Femur, TI. Tibia, FI. Fibula, TA. Tarsus, MT. Metatarsus, PH. Phalanges, OC. Os Calcis

Leg of Seal

This illustration shows the leg of a seal. P. Pelvis, FE. Femur, TI. Tibia, FI. Fibula, TA. Tarsus,…

The claws of a seal's left hind foot.

Seal

The claws of a seal's left hind foot.

"The seal <i>Macrorhinus elephantinus</i> or <i>proboscideus</i>, or <i>Morunga proboscidea</i>. It is the largest of the otaries; the snout is prolonged into a proboscis suggestive of an elephant's trunk. It is confined to the higher latitudes of the southern hemisphere...." &mdash;Whitney, 1889

Elephant Seal on a Rock

"The seal Macrorhinus elephantinus or proboscideus, or Morunga proboscidea. It is the largest of the…

Illustration of the entrance of an igloo, built out of ice, partially underwater. A seal is swimming under the water, headed for the entrance.

Seal Swimming up to an Igloo

Illustration of the entrance of an igloo, built out of ice, partially underwater. A seal is swimming…

<i>Leptonychotes weddelli</i>. "A spotted seal of the southern and antarctic seas, belonging to the family <i>Phocidae</i> and either of two different genera." &mdash;Whitney, 1889
<p>This illustration shows the seal lying on some rocks.

Leopard Seal

Leptonychotes weddelli. "A spotted seal of the southern and antarctic seas, belonging to the family…

"A press or stamp bearing dies on its jaws, or a die and a bed, for imprinting or embossing any device upon paper or a plastic material, as lead. It is much used to form the seals of seal-locks, and may be a kind of heavy pincers. a and a1, dies; b (dotted outline), bar sliding in guide c; d (dotted outline), abutment for coiled spring e; f, lever with cam g at the bottom. The lever moved in the direction in dicated by the arrow forces a down upon a1; when it is released the spring reverses the motion." &mdash;Whitney, 1889

Seal Press

"A press or stamp bearing dies on its jaws, or a die and a bed, for imprinting or embossing any device…

"A circular box used for covering and protecting a seal. Old documents were commonly sealed by means of a ribbon which passed through the parchment, and to which was affixed a large circular wax seal, not attached to the parchment itself, but hanging below its edge. The skippet used to protect such a seal was commonly turned of wood, like a shallow box, with a cover formed of a simple disk of wood held to the box by strings passed through eyelet-holes." -Whitney, 1889

Skippet - Open Box with a Seal Inside

"A circular box used for covering and protecting a seal. Old documents were commonly sealed by means…