How to Seal Stamps & Wax
Before envelopes were affixed with adhesives for sealing, letters were folded, dripped with wax and sealed with a stamp formed by a signet ring or other metal embossed seal pressed directly into the wax. The imprint would be a symbol representing the letter's sender, often a Coat of Arms. Wax is dripped from wax sticks or from wax pellets melted in a spoon. Today you can purchase wax and seal/stamp sets in finer stationary stores or in online specialty shops.
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Instructions
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Place the envelope to be sealed onto a flat surface with the back flap facing you. You can seal a folded letter as well; fold the letter in three equal folds with the center fold facing you to be waxed and sealed.
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Light a match and light the wick on the wax stick. Blow out the match. Hold the wax stick over the flap of the envelope allowing wax to drip onto the envelope flap.
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Allow a nickel-sized circle of wax to accumulated. Hover the lighted wick of the wax stick close to the wax if it begins to harden before you're ready, and then extinguish the flame of the wax stick.
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Grasp the handle of the seal and push the seal into the center of the wax dollop. Hold the seal in place for 30 seconds and then lift straight up to remove.
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Tips & Warnings
Using wax pellets and a melting spoon is much the same concept only you place the wax pellets onto the special spoon and hold the spoon over a flame until the pellets melt. Once the wax is liquid in the bowl of the spoon, pour the wax onto the envelope flap and then press the seal into the circle of wax just like you would the instructions for the wax sticks. Wax sticks are typically less messy than the more involved spoon melting wax pellet method.
The postal service will deliver an envelope with a wax seal if it is marked HAND CANCEL on the front of the envelope, but often the seal will not arrive intact. Wax seals are hard and chip off in the modern postal service machinery as the letters often slip by and don't get hand-canceled even upon request. If you wish to mail your wax-stamped envelope, it is advisable to insert it into another envelope and then mail it as usual.
As with any live flame and fire situation, use caution when lighting matches and wax stick wicks.
