Seal Detail

A double-ended steel desk seal, English, circa 1706, the shaft with pierced central ball between larger and smaller identical turned banding, spreading faceted cushions, integral oval matrices, the larger engraved with a full achievement of arms incorporating with the Garter, supporters and motto reading:

FRANCHA LEAL ETTO GE 

Below an Earl's coronet, the smaller with the shield within the Garter below an Earl's coronet. 

The arms of those of Sidney, first Earl of Godolphin (1645-1712)

Sidney Godolphin, Lord High Treasurer of England, was created Baron Godolphin of Rialton in 1664 and made Earl of Godolphin in 1706 (the likely date of this seal). The Godolphin's were an old Cornish family and Sidney was the third son of Sir Francis Godolphin of Breuge, Cornwall. He became page of honour to the King in 1662 and rapidly progressed upwards from the Bedchamber into statesmanship since, in Charles words, he was "never in the way and never out of the way". The latter continued to hold true since, the old King's death, despite one of James II's staunchest supporters and indeed suspected of a romantic intrigue with the Queen, he continued in various important offices under William. A close ally of Marlborough, he was bullied by the Duchess and frequently at odds with Queen Anne, always threatening retirement but always recalled at the last minute. He was succeeded by his only son Francis whose wife became the Duchess of Marlborough in her own right, but by the death of their son William, the Marlborough title passed to Charles Spencer, Earl of Sutherland, and the Earldom of Godolphin became extinct on Francis's own death on 1766.

Seal Specification

Height:  55mm

Diameter of matrix:  27mm x 29mm and 18mm x19mm

Weight:  38g