 |
| Detail of wax seal from RCSI 1784 Charter with George III depicted on horseback |
RCSI was founded in 1784 by a royal charter being granted by King George III. The recently conserved charter can be seen here with it's large wax seal intact. These wax seals were very important as they authenticated the document they were attached to.
A seal was a device which made an impression in wax, clay, paper. The seal with a unique and specific design was pressed into the wax, clay or embossed on to paper by the author 'sealing' their name, rank, power, honour to the document.
Most seals have always given a single impression on an essentially flat surface. But in medieval Europe two-sided seals with two matrices were often used by institutions or rulers (eg. towns, bishops, aristocracy, royalty) to make two-sided or fully three dimensional impressions in wax, with a 'tag' (a piece of ribbon running through them attaching them to the document). These 'pendant' seal impressions hung below the documents they authenticated being attached by the 'tag'.
- Wikipedia
Over the centuries the College has received a number of supplemental charters. In 1844 the First Supplemental Charter was granted by Queen Victoria and instituted the RCSI Fellowship by examination. Before that surgeons had to be nominated by an RCSI Member and faced an election to decide if they, too, would become Member. The wax seal from this supplemental charter can be seen below
 |
| Detail of one side of 1844 Supplemental Charter wax seal depicting Queen Victoria seated on a throne |
 |
| Detail from second side of 1844 Supplemental Charter depicting Queen Victoria on horseback |
This seal is quite unusual as it is still in a suede-like cover. The seal itself is slightly damaged but on the whole intact. In 1883 and 1885 the College received another two supplemental charters from Queen Victoria. The Second Supplemental Charter (1883) made provision for the election of Examiners and the admission of candidates for Letters Testimonial and Midwifery Diploma. The Third Supplemental Charter (1885) opened the RCSI Medical School, Licence and Fellowship to women. A major step forward for women's rights and the College as it became the first medical school in the British Isles to do so.
 |
| Detail of one side of 1885 Supplemental Charter wax seal depicting Queen Victoria seated on a throne |
 |
| Detail of second side of 1885 Supplemental Charter wax seal depicting Queen Victoria on horseback |
The wax seals shown above come from the Third Supplemental Charter. A credit card has been placed beside the seal to show just how big these are. The detail on this seal is exquisite and so fine considering it is 130 years old!
- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy