Spies And General Secret Squirrels

[Simon Wood]

Hi All,

Can anyone identify this letter heading, and explain its significance?

I can't [explain its significance].



Thank you.

Regards,

Simon

[Pcdunn]

I think the striped ribbon at the base of the island is a device that appears in coat of arms, so I'm guessing this is a heraldic image. Sometimes these were puns on the person's name. We have "palm", "isle" and a "star"-- any help?

[Simon Wood]

Hi Pcdunn,

Thanks.

It's about as far as I've got so far.

Regards,

Simon

[GUT]

I think the striped ribbon at the base of the island is a device that appears in coat of arms, so I'm guessing this is a heraldic image. Sometimes these were puns on the person's name. We have "palm", "isle" and a "star"-- any help?

I took it as a quil not a palm.

[DJA]

The star is an Estoile.

Are you reading a book concerning Foa press?

[Simon Wood]

Hi DJA,

A book concerning Foa press?

What is that?

Regards,

Simon

[SirJohnFalstaff]

The star is an Estoile.

Are you reading a book concerning Foa press?

Yep.

Found this.

http://www.araltas.com/info/article05.html

an estoile on a coat of arms mean nobility. That's what I got so far.
There are some specificities if Scottish or Irish.

[Simon Wood]

Hi All,

On 8th July 1882 Alan Pinkerton wrote to Prime Minister Gladstone, offering the services of his detective agency to discover the Phoenix Park murderers.

Pinkerton's letter was passed to Robert Anderson, who sought advice on the matter from Edward Mortimer Archibald, British Consul-General in New York, who at the time was in London.

In 1866 Archibald had put together a network of informers to keep tabs on the Fenians in North America.

Archibald's reply to Anderson was written on stationery bearing the estoile logo.



Regards,

Simon

[Robert]

This guy seems to have been in the peerage, although there isn't a motto on the letter heading.

http://thepeerage.com/p34619.htm

[Simon Wood]

Hi Robert,

Yes, he was a heavy hitter.

There's a lengthy piece about him in the NY Times, 30th January 1883.

Regards,

Simon

[DJA]

It is a variation of the Scottish Archibald "coat of arms".

Ditat servata fides.

[Simon Wood]

Hi DJA,

A good call. Thank you.

This is similar.



Regards,

Simon

[DJA]

Your original post had me looking at the early 17th century,as I surmised it was associated with the Prayer Book Rebellion.

Edit. Oops,early 16th century.

http://www.myfamilysilver.com/pages/crestfinder-crest.aspx?id=133216&name=Archibald

[Simon Wood]

Hi DJA,

That is spooky.

I am currently researching a book about the 1549 Prayer Book Rebellion.

Regards,

Simon

[Simon Wood]

Hi All,

I finally identified this symbol.

It was in Fairbairns Book of Family Crests [2 vols].



It is the crest of the Archibald family, who were movers and shakers in Canada.

Palma non sine pulvere is the family motto. No reward without effort.

Regards,

Simon