Always Test First.

This is a shot of some new type sealing wax. It is mail proof. It is also ink-proof.

Many years ago i saw a woman in Venice use sealing wax, and when it had cooled she gently rubbed some stamper ink in silver across it, to lovely effect. I have used this method to bring seals to life ever since.

Last night I did the usual with the new wax, on 20 hand written scrolls. I planned to get up early, post the work, and have full day colouring some charters.

You can imagine the words which sprung to my lips when I realised at 7.30 am that the ink had not dried.

To cut a long story short: I had to wipe off all the ink, and try to find a substitute, so that the seals looked like they should. I settled on hand painted with acrylic ink in the end.
This line up are a few of the inked, un-inked, and re-inked seals. (It took ages!) Back to old wax for me.