£950
Two English gold fob seals, late 18th c and c1824, the oval seal with chalcedony intaglio of initials MB and coronet of an earl, the oblong seal with cornelian arms (shield, crest and motto), cornelian intaglio 32 and 36mm h respectively excluding loose ring, 28.5g
Provenance: The oblong seal is engraved with the marital arms of George Langford, Post Captain in the Royal Navy (b. 24 April 1781 at Upton, Bucks) and his wife Mary (died 11 June 1824 at Lyons, France), the eldest daughter of John Ramsbottom of Windsor. They married on 14 June 1803 at St Georges Church, Hanover Square. George Langford was the second surviving son of the Rev. William Langford, Canon of Windsor. He was granted arms and crest on 23 October 1824 by which time he had only recently become a widower.
Mary Langford's own arms had been granted to her father John Ramsbottom of Windsor and the City of London, a banker, on 24 May 1809.
George Langford's arms reference his naval career in the obvious illusion of an anchor but also perhaps less obviously the motto NIL DESPERANDUM which was shared by the Ansons, famous naval family with whom he was allied by his marriage since Mary Ramsbottom's sister Harriott was married to Edward Anson, brother of Thomas Viscount Anson
Both of fine quality and the same good condition
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