Alegorías del papel sellado, 1846-1866. AHPCO, Notarías de Córdoba

Stamped paper appeared in 1637 to provide legal certainty and collect taxes, and it was used on all kinds of notarial, judicial, and municipal documents. Until 1844, it featured the royal coat of arms with slight variations in its design. From that year until 1869, a series of images linked to Greek and Roman mythology, such as Mercury, Ceres, and Athena, or to various activities, such as Justice, appeared. Each seal represented a different allegory and deity. In 1870, the allegory of the matron appeared, which would become the only visible image on the ink seal, and it would change with the various governments. Ultimately, the seal became a microcosm in which every change concerning central power was reflected.