Fake

Lipa is a very beautiful tree. Once, alleys of trimmed limes decorated palace parks and manors of nobility. That's why they called it a noble tree. Lipa calmly withstood the haircut: gardeners in the estates formed young trees in the form of hedges, gave them the form of balls, pyramids or animal figures, copying French parks, where so trimmed the bushes of laurel, samshita, or myrtle. But, when the crown stopped cutting, the trees were waved at a height of 15-20 meters.

And about three hundred years ago, important documents began to be fastened with wax or marmot seals. And still parcels protect from opening huge plaques of brown marmot (since 2011 refused, replacing with branded tape and reinforced with fiberglass threads). In the past, seals were made of copper. The prints engraved on them were usually depicted of the State Eagle and in a circle were the name of the agency (order), which owned the seal, or other signs.

But, in those days there were many crooks who forged various certificates and documents entitling to a profitable position, inheritance, or receiving money from the treasury. Text and signature people copied easily, but with printing was more difficult. It is difficult to engrave on a copper round and copper is expensive. So, fake printing used one or two, less often - several times. It required a different, cheaper, and easier-to-process material.

Only a tree was such a material in the Middle Ages. And not any - for example, pine or oak wood has fibers, and along them is cut easily, and across - difficult. Therefore, for example, the correct circumference, which is always present on the seals, on these materials is very difficult to get.

But, the linden is ideal for handling with a knife and a hundred. The lime wood is quite homogeneous and very soft. So, the crooks have easily cut from lime fake seals, almost indistinguishable from the original.

But, there was a difference: the cut on the wood does not look quite like on metal. And the experienced official, carefully looking at the imprint on the surgurce of the certificate written to him, said: "Ah, brother and the seal you have is fake!" and the hapless crook went to the huddle.

Source: Andrey's Letter