A major addition to the WS Society’s Heritage Portal was posted on 14 April. This essay by the Signet Library’s conservator, Jo Hockey, traces the use of the historic wax seals used to close letters and how they were covertly broken by those wishing to look inside the envelopes. Hockey’s research highlights the key role played by the Post Office in intercepting and opening letters deemed to be sensitive: “The Post Office and its predecessors had always operated some form of espionage, indeed the earliest systems for the purpose of Royal communications were carefully monitored to ensure security of information and intelligence of potential threats”.
Hockey also considers key examples and cases of letters being opened, such as Entick v Carrington [1765] EWHC KB J98, and the ‘Mazzini case’, where a political activist for the unification of Italy brough a case against the Home Secretary, Sir James Graham, to protest the tampering of his correspondence. As knowledge of espionage against letter writers in the 19th century grew, reports into Post Office practices encouraged moves to respect writers’ privacy and balance the interests of State security against personal privacy.
The materials used to research this essay are held at the Signet Library, including reports, newspapers and, of course, many historic wax seals. Hockey’s research shines a light on the collections of the Signet Library and the previous scandals involving the Post Office, which continue to resonate in the 21st century.