The study of engraved seals and signets, their history, authenticity, and classification.
From Greek 'sphragis' (seal/signet ring). Before signatures existed, people pressed their unique seal into hot wax. Sphragistics is the archaeology of identity.
Before signatures, your SEAL was your identity! People wore signet rings and pressed them into wax to prove documents were real. Sphragistics studies these ancient identity stamps — basically, they study the selfie of the medieval world! ðŸ’ðŸ”
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