Sigilli Chiudilettera 1820–1860

Federico Borromeo’s Sigilli Chiudilettera 1820–1860, with an introductory essay by Clemente Fedele, explores a fascinating yet often overlooked aspect of postal history: letter seals and their role in protecting the confidentiality of correspondence. Drawing on more than 50 years of collecting, the author examines the objects that secured letters and left distinctive impressions on their reverse, revealing what might be described as ‘the other side of the letter’.

The use of letter seals reached its golden age between the 1820s and approximately 1860. These objects, known as ‘wafers’ in the English-speaking world, ‘pains à cacheter’ in French and ‘Obladen’ in German, encompassed a remarkable variety of designs and purposes. The book classifies them according to their subjects, including cameos, heraldry, names and initials, mottos and aphorisms, portraits, floral and animal motifs, monuments and landscapes, religious and moral propaganda, commercial advertising, shorthand and security. It also explores anti-Graham campaign seals and other specialised categories.

The volume comprises 400 pages, with 27 chapters, numerous colour illustrations and detailed descriptions. A major scholarly contribution is Fedele’s extensive essay of more than 100 pages, which examines the history of seals, their historical context and the tools used to apply them, supported by contemporary images and illustrations. Comprehensive indexes and an extensive bibliography further enhance the book’s research value.

Beyond its historical and cultural interest, this work provides a valuable reference for collectors wishing to explore letter seals as a specialised collecting field. It is equally useful to postal historians, offering additional information for describing letters bearing seals on the reverse and enriching their interpretation beyond conventional postal rates and markings.

Published with bilingual Italian and English text, the book makes this transnational subject accessible to a wider international audience. Its quality and scholarly merit were recognised with a Gold Medal at Italia 2026, the international philatelic literature exhibition held in Rome from 15 to 18 October under FEPA Patronage.

Hardbound, with a silk bookmark, the book is available for €100 from Post Horn magazine.

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