Seals were not just a functional device; they were used as tools of authentication, validation, and security - and provided a means for both individuals and corporate identites to represent themselves. The seals gathered here, inthis lavishly-illustrated guide and catalogue (the first substantial volume to be devoted to the seals of a medieval urban community), are representative of those that survive from London from the period c.1050 - c.1300; they aredrawn from some of the most important and significant collections, including the National Archives, the London Metropolitan Archives, and the archives of Saint Bartholomew's Hospital. Colour images of the seals themselves are accompanied by detailed descriptions, while an extensive index serves as an invaluable tool for the navigation of the complex personal nomenclature of the period. Dr John McEwan is a post-doctoral researcher at the Centerfor Digital Humanities at Saint Louis University, Missouri.
