AMERICAN KOSHER SEALS.

Early 20th century

Interesting collection of metal stamps bearing company names and symbols relating to kosher butcher stores in the United States, used in the production of ‘plumbas’ (Yidd. literal def. ‘lead’). With 24 finished plumbas. Housed in a wooden hinged box. (Box:) 1.5 x 13 x 7 inches.

The use of the plumba - or the metal seal clamped to ritually slaughtered meat or poultry - was an important tool in identifying and guaranteeing the fulfillment of the halachic requirements to be executed by the shechita method of Kosher ritual slaughter. This collection was likely in the possession of a plumba-production company, as approximately forty different company symbols appear. Some names include such well-known American Kosher meat production companies as: Schwarzschild & Sulzberger (most likely S.S.), a New York firm that opened a Kansas City plant and then another in Chicago in 1900; National Packing Company (most likely N.P.Co.) a corporation of three smaller firms formed in 1902; Sinai Kosher (Sinai), established in 1912, which merged with Kosher Star in 1922; Isidore Pinkowitz (most likely I.P.Co.), supplied kosher meat to large American grocery chains. Also appearing on stamps are: “Kosher” (in Hebrew characters), Ferber, Lansky, Karen, Maisel’s, and CeeBee.