How to Use Victorian Seals & Sealing Wax

You can tell at a glance if the envelope is opened, thanks to the seal.

Victorian life was so centered around propriety in communication that publishers produced entire letter-writing etiquette manuals, such as "The Lover's Letter Writer For Ladies and Gentlemen and The Lover's Casket." While such books reflected the Victorian obsession with courtship and even included etiquette for penning a rejection for a marriage proposal, it's little wonder the senders worked hard to keep such missives secret. According to the National Postal Museum, although gummed envelopes were invented in the 1850s, "The top flap remained ungummed, of course, for the same stores also sold sealing wax, seals and other items to seal the envelopes." In response to this need, the Victorians developed an etiquette for using sealing wax.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Wick-included sealing wax
• Lighter
• Invitation-style envelope
• Brass seal

1. Most wax sold today comes with a wick.

   Light the stick of wax. Hold it vertically to keep the wick lit and let the wax soften just until it starts to pool in on itself. Carefully move the stick over the "v" in the envelope and turn the wax stick on its side, holding it about two inches away from the envelope.

2. Control where you are dripping the wax.

   Let the wax drip onto the envelope, forming a puddle that is slightly larger than the stamping face of the Victorian seal. You may need to move the stick as you work to keep the circle in the right place. Don't try to adjust the edge as the wax may have discolored the paper when it hit and you will likely only make it look worse.

3. Seals can be basic brass, like this, or jewelry, such as signet rings..

   Quickly press the seal into the puddle of wax, keeping the stamping face parallel with the surface of the envelope. Lift the seal straight up to avoid smudging the image. Let the image cool completely before you touch it.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are planning to mail something sealed with wax, check the packaging on the wax to make sure it says, "mailable." More traditional waxes will crack or crumble when put through post office machinery. Most waxes won't stick to glass, so if you're dealing with expensive paper, consider dripping the wax on a hand mirror then peeling it off. Adhere the finished seal with a dot of glue. Don't try to substitute ordinary candle wax. You'll most likely just end up with a greasy spot on your paper after the seal falls off. Consult a Victorian etiquette list to find the correct color, size and placement of seals based on the recipient.

• Paper is highly flammable. Be careful not to get the lit wax too close to the envelope. If you care more about the effect than the process, sealing wax is also sold in glue-gun style sticks. Remember, though, anything that comes out of a glue gun (especially the high-temperature variety) is going to be hot, so don't nudge it with your fingers. Wax also comes as wick-free sticks, which must be broken and melted in a spoon over a direct heat source, such as a candle, then poured over the envelope. The metal part of the spoon will remain hot for some time.

References

• The lover's letter-writer for ladies and gentlemen. Routledge's household annuals. 1866.
• Envelopes In the Machine Age

Resources

• Unfolding the Mysteries of Sealing Wax and Wafers. A Victorian Passage into Time.