If you're using a wick wax you will need to light the wick and allow the wax to drip onto the stem of the flower and envelope. Then, place you flower on the envelope and trim it to the length you want. This helps it lay flat and you don't end up with any wax running where it shouldn't if the envelope flap lifts up. To start, I like to close my envelope properly using the sticky strip inside. Do be careful using candles, place them on a heat proof surface out of reach of children and make sure you're not wearing any baggy clothing that could catch fire on the candle. A tealight - I like to use this to light the sealing wax as it's easier than constantly lighting matches.A wax seal stamp - I have chosen a monogram design for this one because they are popular for weddings.Botanicals - I've got some fresh lavender and some fresh bay leaves both snipped from my garden.Sealing Wax - I've used the wick wax kind but you can use the type you put in a glue gun or the type you melt with a spoon equally well.Now, naturally, this won’t realistically apply to many people.īut if you’re like me and plan on actually doing something like this (if only just for fun), remember that there can be unexpected rules for things like this. In terms of usage, a plain seal is roughly equivalent of a monogram seal, though just like with red coloring, it also serves as an acceptable default for when no other seals apply. The most basic of seals, a circle seal literally has no lettering or markings whatsoever. It could also be used for private letters between family members, close family, or lovers. Mottos / Novelty / Decorative SealsĪll these are used for informal messages, most likely with some familiarity between correspondents. Using a monogram of your initials as the seal was proper for personal business related, or casual matters. Using your family’s crest as a seal was reserved for official business matters concerning your family or title, or formal letters between family members. The Seal ItselfĪs stated before, the actual seal contents (crest, letting, other) had an importance, not just the color. While in videos this is done for aesthetic effect, in the etiquette, mixed colors were used to represent mixed feelings. If you watch sealing videos on YouTube (yes, they’re a thing), you’re likely to see a lot of mixed colors. No self-respecting gentleman would ever use such a color. Metallic colors, gold, silver, or other “flashy” seals were really only used on correspondence between ladies. There’s actually record of a black-sealed letter being sent, and within it contained an apology for the choice of color - the sender simply did not have any other colors available at all.įor extra emphasis, a black border would be added on the letter, in addition to the seal.Ī clear indication of “Okay, sit down before opening this one.” Other Colors “Gay Waxes” You did not use black unless it was absolutely necessary. Black seals were of utmost importance, but not for a good reason.īlack was the color of mourning, of death, of something of grave (pun intended) importance. In modern terms, if I were to hear word of one of my cousins graduating (and was crazy enough to write and seal an actual physical letter in 2019), I’d use pink. Pink was the color of praise, a letter of congratulations, for example. This put white-sealed letters into a higher category of importance - not as high as (correctly, formally used) red seals, but something more than your average green or blue. White was used for formal invitations, such as weddings. A word between friends, perhaps.Īlthough again, red was also just as likely to be used, if the sender had no green. Green wax was for casual, friendly letters. The stronger the blue used, the stronger the feelings being conveyed. Blueīlue seals were commonly associated with romance and passion, very strong feelings for one another. If you had no other applicable colors, it wasn’t considered out of the ordinary to use red wax instead. Red seals were often used for formal correspondence, although red was also a ‘default’ of sorts. No lick-and-stick flaps, you took your envelope (or even, the back of your folded letter), and put some wax (not always actually wax) on it, and used the seal (the metal circle there) to make an imprint and press the wax down, sealing the envelope.Ĭommon seals would be either a motto or something novelty, a monogram / initial(s), or a family crest, each with slightly different meanings.Īdditionally, the stereotypical seal color is red, but the color was actually important: the seal was likely the first thing you’d see, so the color of the seal was a hint as to the contents of the letter. Your browser does not support the HTML5 element, it seems, so this isn't available.Īnyone reading this actually familiar with wax seals? No? Okay, it’s this:įor you young ones, this was how we used to seal envelopes.
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