The short answer: a wax seal stamp is a metal head engraved with a design, fixed to a handle. You press it into a pool of melted sealing wax to leave the design behind. To choose one, decide on the design first, then the head size, then whether you want one design or several swappable heads. If it is your first stamp, buy it as a kit, so the wax, a melting spoon and a candle come with it.
Below: the parts of a stamp, the five choices that matter, designs for different occasions, how to look after a stamp, and a comparison of the kits we sell. We are Sealed & Shelved, a small shop for readers and letter writers. For the sealing itself, step by step, see our guide How to Seal a Letter with Wax.
What a wax seal stamp is
A stamp has two parts:
- The head: a metal disc with the design cut into its face. The design is reversed on the head, so it reads the right way round in the wax.
- The handle: wood or metal, sometimes ornate. Some handles hold one fixed head; others take heads that screw or slot in, so one handle can carry several designs.
To make a seal you also need sealing wax (sticks or beads), something to melt it in (a small melting spoon), a heat source (a tea light candle works), and a lighter or matches to light it.
Five choices to make
1. The design
This is the reason to buy a stamp, so start here. Think about where the seals will go:
- Letters and cards: a motif you like, such as a flower, an animal or a tree, works on everything.
- Thank-you notes and gifts: a short script message, such as "Thank You" or "With Love".
- Holiday cards: a seasonal design, used once a year but on many envelopes.
- Wedding invitations: a design that matches the stationery, used on dozens of envelopes, so practice on scrap paper first.
Small, crisp details show up best. Very fine lines can fill with wax and blur.
2. The head size
A head about 1 in (2.5 cm) across, like the one in our rose kit, fits comfortably on an envelope flap. A bigger head makes a bolder seal but needs a bigger pool of wax, and the pool has to be a little wider than the head to give the seal a clean edge.
3. One design or swappable heads
A stamp with one fixed head is simple: pick it up and press. A kit with swappable heads gives you several designs on one handle, which is handy if you want a different seal for thank-you notes, holiday cards and everyday letters.
4. Wax sticks or wax beads
Both melt the same way in a spoon over a candle. Sticks are easy to break into even pieces. Beads let you measure out a small amount and mix colors. Gold, silver and deep red are classic choices; on kraft envelopes, metallic colors stand out well. Our guide Sealing Wax Beads or Sticks? compares them in detail.
5. A kit or separate pieces
A kit puts the stamp, wax, a melting spoon and candles in one box, often a box that is ready to give as a gift. Buying the pieces one at a time only makes sense once you know which wax and which tools you like. Whichever you choose, check whether a lighter is included: none of ours include one.
Designs for different occasions
The designs below are all from our kits:
- Everyday letters: eight rose designs in the Rose Wax Seal Kit, from a classic rose to a rosebud bouquet; a sunflower, a tree of life, a rabbit with blossoms and a mountain night scene in the Wax Seal Stamp Set with Gold Wax Beads.
- For fantasy readers: a dragon, a cat in a moonlit arch, and a potion bottle with stars, also in the set with gold wax beads.
- Thank-you notes: the "Happy Mail, Thank You & With Love" trio in the Wax Seal Kit with 3 Stamp Heads, or the "With Love" script in the set with gold wax beads.
- Holiday cards: the Merry Christmas trio, three Christmas designs on swappable heads in the 3-head kit.
We do not make custom stamps or initial stamps: every design is one of the fixed designs listed on each product page.
The wax seal kits we sell, compared
| Kit | Stamp | Wax | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose Wax Seal Kit | Wooden handle, 1 in head, 8 rose designs | 3 sticks: gold, silver, burgundy | $26.99 |
| Gold Wax Beads Set | Ornate handle, 8 designs | Gold beads, 1 bottle | $26.99 |
| 3 Stamp Heads Kit | 3 swappable heads, 8 sets | Beads, 2 bottles | $33.99 |
| Letter Writing Gift Set | The rose kit's stamp | 3 sticks | $36.99 |
What else comes in each box:
- Rose Wax Seal Kit ($26.99): a stainless steel melting spoon and two tea lights, in a book-style gift box. The stamp is 3.5 in (9 cm) tall.
- Wax Seal Stamp Set with Gold Wax Beads ($26.99): the beads come in a corked bottle, with a melting spoon and two tea lights, in a green gift box.
- Wax Seal Kit with 3 Stamp Heads ($33.99): three gold-tone metal heads that swap onto one handle, two corked bottles of wax beads in colors chosen for each set, a melting spoon, a tea light and a metallic pen, in a green gift box printed with "SEALING WAX".
- Letter Writing Gift Set ($36.99): the complete rose kit, plus 10 large and 2 small sheets of kraft-colored writing paper and 20 kraft envelopes with a pointed flap.
None of the kits include a lighter or matches. All of them ship free within the US. More kits and sets are in Wax Seals.
How to look after a wax seal stamp
- Let it cool, then clean it. Wipe the face with a soft dry cloth after each session. Wax that has set in the lines is easier to lift once it is cold.
- Keep it dry. Don't soak the stamp, especially a wooden handle.
- Chill it between seals. If the stamp starts sticking to the wax, rest the head on an ice pack for a moment before the next seal.
- Store the heads safely. Keep spare heads in the kit's box, so the engraved faces don't get scratched.
Safety
Melted wax is hot and the candle is an open flame. Work on a heat-safe surface, keep the kit away from children, and never leave a lit candle unattended.
Frequently asked questions
What size wax seal stamp should I get?
For envelopes, a head about 1 in (2.5 cm) across is a comfortable size, and the pool of wax should be a little wider than the head. Larger heads suit bigger envelopes, gift boxes and packages.
Can I buy just a stamp, without a kit?
We sell wax seal stamps as kits only, so each one comes with wax, a melting spoon and tea lights. If it is your first stamp, a kit is the easiest way to start.
Do wax seals survive the mail?
They can, but in the US a wax-sealed envelope usually needs the nonmachinable surcharge, because the seal makes it too uneven for the letter-sorting machines. Our guide How to Seal a Letter with Wax lists the current USPS postage and tips for mailing.
Why does the wax stick to my stamp?
Usually because the stamp was pressed in too soon. Wait a few seconds until the wax begins to set at the edges, keep the stamp face clean and dry, and chill the stamp if it keeps sticking.
Is a wax seal kit a good gift?
Yes, for anyone who writes letters, makes cards or wraps gifts with care. The kits come in gift boxes. For more ideas, see our guide to gifts for book lovers.