Legal Definitions - sigillum

A sigillum refers to a seal, particularly a distinctive mark or emblem impressed onto a soft material, such as wax, to authenticate a document, signify agreement, or secure an item.

• Example 1: In medieval times, when a monarch issued a royal decree, a large, ornate sigillum bearing the king's unique crest would be pressed into a pool of hot wax affixed to the parchment. This act served as official authentication, signifying that the decree genuinely originated from the king and carried the full force of his authority.
• Example 2: An antique will from the 18th century might feature a small, personal sigillum next to the testator's signature. This seal, perhaps a family crest or an initial, was impressed into a wafer of wax or a paper disc, providing an additional layer of authentication beyond the handwritten signature and indicating the testator's solemn intent for the document to be legally binding.
• Example 3: Before the invention of modern tamper-evident packaging, a diplomat sending a sensitive letter or a merchant dispatching a valuable parcel might apply a sigillum to the closure. By pressing a unique stamp into wax over the flap of an envelope or the knot of a cord, they ensured that any unauthorized opening would break the seal, immediately revealing that the contents might have been compromised.