Seal impression (cast), of Alexander III

Add to album

This is a 19th century sulphur cast of a seal impression. The impression was made from the reverse of the Great Seal of Alexander III dating from around 1249.

The seal depicts the king as a knight on horseback. He wears a tunic of mail covered by a long coat. He carries a grooved sword and a convex shield with a lion rampant heraldic design. The legend '+ ALEXANDER DEO RECTORE REX SCOTTORVM' translates as 'Alexander with God as guide, King of the Scots'. The gold border is modern cardboard trim.

Seals were used extensively from the 12th century in Scotland by kings, clergy, nobles and towns. In a society where few people could read or write, they provided evidence that documents were authentic. Great Seals were used primarily for grants of lands.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-180-001-728-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  K.1999.734
• Date: c. 1249
  Date of cast: 19th century; Date of seal: Around 1249
  
• Material: Sulphur; brown; circular. Inscription: + ALEXANDER DEO RECTORE REX SCOTTORVM
  Seal / cast
  
• Dimensions: 94 mm D
  
• What: Seal / cast
  
• Subject:
• Who: Alexander III
  Young Collection
  
• Where:
• Event:
• Description: Brown sulphur cast of the reverse of the Great Seal of Alexander III, depicting the king as a knight on horseback, c. 1249
  
• References:
  • Birch, Walter de Gray. History of Scottish Seals from the eleventh to the seventeenth century..., vol. I. The Royal Seals of Scotland. Stirling and London: Eneas MacKay and T. Fisher Unwin, 1905, p 27. 
  • Stevenson and Wood, i, p.5 no.15 
  • Stevenson, J.H. and Wood, M. Scottish Heraldic Seals - Royal, Official, Ecclesiastical, Collegiate, Burghal, Personal, vol i. Glasgow, 1940, p 5 no. 15. 
• Translations:
• Related Records: