SEAL. An impression upon wax, wafer, or some other tenacious substance capable of being impressed. 5 Jails. N. Y. 239.
Lord Coke defines a seal to be wax, with an im pression. 3 Inet. 169. "SigiIlum," says he, "eat sera impressa, quia sera sine impreasione non est sigillutn.' The definition given above is the com men-law definition of a seal. Perkins, 129, 134; 13r)ke; Abr. Faits, 17, 30; 2 Leon. 21; 5 Johns. N. 239 ; 2 Caines, N. Y. 362 ; 21 Pick. Mass. 417. In some of the states of the United States a scroll is equally effective. See &nom,.
Merlin defines a seal to be a plate of metal with a fiat surfaoe, on which is engraved the arms of a prince or nation, or private individual, or ether de viee, with whioh an impression may be made on wax or other substance on paper or parchment, in urder to authenticate them : the impression thus made is also called a seal, Repert. mot Sceau; 3 WCord, SO. C. 583 ; 5 Whart. Penn, 563.
2. When a seal is affixed to an instrument it makes it a specialty. See SPECAALTY.
When an instrument concludes with the words, "witness our hands and seals," and is Signed by two per:sena, with only one seal, the jury May infer fr6m the face of the paper that the person who Signed last adopted the seal of the first. 6 Penn. St. 302. See 9
Am. Jur. 290-297; 1 Ohio, 368'; 3 Johns. N. Y. 470 ; 121d. 76; as to the origin and use of seals, Addison, Contr. 63 SCROLL.
, 3. The public seal of a foreign state proves itself; and. public acts, decrees, 8,nd judgments exemplified under this seal are received as true and genuine. 2 °ranch, 187, 238; 4 Dall: Penn. 416 ; 7 Wheat. 273, 335; 1 Den. N. Y. 376; 2 Conn. 85, 90 ; 6 Wend. N. Y. 475 ; 9 Mod. 66. See 2 Munf. Va. 53. But to entitle its seal to such au thority the foreign state must hare been ac knowledged by the government within whose jurisdiction the forum is located. 3 Wheat. 610; 9 Ves. Ch. 347.
The seal of a notary public is taken judi cial notice of the world over, 2 Esp. 700; 5 Cranch, 535 ; 6 Serg. ik R. Penn. 484 ; 3 Wend. N. Y. 173 ; 1 Gray, Mass. 175; but it must not be a scroll. 4 Blackf. Ind. 158. Judicial notice is taken of the seals of su perior courts, Comyns, Dig. Evidence (A 2); not so of foreign courts, 3 East, 221 ; 9 id. 192, except admiralty or . maritime courts. 2 Cranch, 187; 4 id. 292, 435 ; 3 Conn. 171. SO3 Story, Confl. Laws, 643 ; 2 Phillipps, ET. 4th Am. ed. 454, notes.