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§7.3.9

Seals and Round Stamps

A round seal with rim text—how much is transcribed?

✅ NormativeSettled. The requirement holds as written.📄 Page ruleCan be applied from the page alone.Read §7.3.9 in the RFC ↗

The requirement

A seal or round stamp MUST be rendered as [seal: printed text], holding all of its legible rim and centre text in reading order, in a block separate from body prose. The bare [seal] MUST be used only when none of its text is legible.

When it applies

A round or oval impression — an auditor's firm seal, a notary seal, a court seal — printed or inked on the page, usually beside a signature. Its text runs around the rim.

Sketch of the printed page — layout, not output
   ╭────────────╮        For, Caldrivane & Rao LLP
  ( CALDRIVANE &    )       Chartered Accountants
  (  RAO LLP     )       [signature]
   ╰────────────╯        A. N. Bhatt

Reading the examples. Each one pairs a source page with the output the rule expects. ✅ Sample: the rule applies. ❌ Counter-sample: it looks like it applies and does not, or a rendering got it wrong. A non-conforming output, in red, is shown only for contrast. … marks content left out of an excerpt.

Requirements

  • The seal MUST NOT be dropped. It is the page's proof of authority, the same kind of fact as a signature, and its text is often the only place the firm's name is printed.
  • Its text MUST be kept verbatim and in a readable order — in the samples, upper rim, then centre, then lower rim — including a word the rim cuts short. Illegible characters are left out, never guessed.
  • The seal MUST be its own block, never part of a sentence beside it.
  • A stamp that lands on a table is kept out of the grid — see Handwriting and Stamps (§9.6.5).
  • A signature written across the seal is a separate mark — see Signatures (§7.3.10).
01

✅ SampleThe rule applies

an auditor's seal beside a signature

A blue circular seal: CALDRIVANE & RAO LLP along the upper rim, H&R over LLP in the centre, and CHARTERED ACCOUNTAN along the lower rim — the rim runs out before the word ends. Beside it, a handwritten signature over a printed name, designation and registration numbers. Also the sample for a signature whose name is printed beneath it — see Signatures (§7.3.10).

Source page
Seals and Round Stamps — an auditor's seal beside a signature. Source page.
Expected output · excerpt, the signature block

…

[seal: CALDRIVANE & RAO LLP H&R LLP CHARTERED ACCOUNTAN]

For, Caldrivane & Rao LLP Chartered Accountants Firm Registration No. - 118427W/W100284

[signature]

A. N. Bhatt Partner Membership No. 084213 UDIN: 26084213MZQPKT2231

…

Markdown
<!-- … -->

[seal: CALDRIVANE & RAO LLP H&R LLP CHARTERED ACCOUNTAN]

For, Caldrivane & Rao LLP
Chartered Accountants
Firm Registration No. - 118427W/W100284

[signature]

A. N. Bhatt
Partner
Membership No. 084213
UDIN: 26084213MZQPKT2231

<!-- … -->
Seals and Round Stamps · Source page

an auditor's seal beside a signature

Seals and Round Stamps — an auditor's seal beside a signature. Source page.
02

✅ SampleThe rule applies

a firm stamp with a signature inside it

A purple round stamp at the foot of a scanned letter: KESSLER & VANE on the upper rim, CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS in the centre, FRN-408217E • ASTILBE on the lower rim, and a handwritten mark through its centre. The letterhead prints a logo on the left and two address blocks on the right.

Source page
Seals and Round Stamps — a firm stamp with a signature inside it. Source page.
Expected output · excerpt, foot of the page

…

Branches also at Farrowmede, Nordwick & Cassilport

[seal: KESSLER & VANE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS FRN-408217E • ASTILBE]

[signature]

Markdown
<!-- … -->

Branches also at Farrowmede, Nordwick & Cassilport

[seal: KESSLER & VANE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS FRN-408217E • ASTILBE]

[signature]
Seals and Round Stamps · Source page

a firm stamp with a signature inside it

Seals and Round Stamps — a firm stamp with a signature inside it. Source page.

More

Rule id text-seals-and-round-stamps · text marks