SEAL. An impression upon wax, wafer, or some other tenacious substance capable of being impressed. 5 Johna. N. Y. 239.
Lord Coke defines a seal to be wax, with an im pression. 3 Inst. 169. "Sigillurn,"" says he, " e8t ear° impreaa, quite cera sine impreuione non ert iigillum." The definition given above is the com men-law definition of a seal. Perkins, 129, 134'; Bmke, Ahr. Fait8, 17, 30; 2 Leon. 21; 5 Johns. N. Y. 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 ScnoLL.
Merlin defines a seal to be a plate of metal with a flat surface, on which is engraved the arms of a prince or nation, or private individual, or other de vice, with which an impression may be made on wax or other substance on paper or parchment, in e:rder tO authenticate them : the impression thus made is also called a seal, 116w:rt. mot Scoau; 3 DPCord, So. C. 583 ; 5 Whart. Penn. 563.
2. When a seal is affixed to an instrument it makes it a specialty. See SPECIALTY.
When a,n instrument concludes with the words, "witness our hands and seals," and is itigned by two persOns, with only one seal, the jury May infer from 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'; g Johns. N. Y. 470 ; 12 id. 76; as to the origin and use of seal% Addison, Contr. 6; Sonom,.
, 3. The public seal of . a foreign state proves itself ; and. public acts; decrees, and judgments exemplified under this seal are received as true and genuine. 2 Cranch, 187, 238; 4 Dalt 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 have 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. 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 rcrior courts, Comyns, Dig. Evidence (A 2); not so of foreign courts, 3 East, 221 ; 9 id. 192, except admiralty or maritime courts. 2 Cranch, 1871 4 id. 292, 435 ; 3 Conn. 171. SD) Story, Conti. Laws; 643 ; 2 Phillipps, EY. 4th Am. ed. 454, notes.