(VICTORIA) (1819 - 1901) Queen of England reigned during the Crimean and Boer Wars abolished the East India Company brought Disraeli to power as Prime Minister and is considered the symbol of a unified British Empire. Letters patent signed at the head in type 2pp. folio parchment London Oct. 3 1868 issued to Daniel West for his: ""...improvement in Presses for packing cotton hemp wool and other Goods..."". Suspended by a red cotton cord from the bottom of the document is a large yellow wax seal 6 1/4"" dia. 3/4"" thick depicts Victoria on her throne on one side and astride a horse on reverse. A very thin crack is apparent and top of seal is chipped. Documents bears folds but are otherwise fine. With original storage box. Cotton was of course essential to the British economy. In 1860 West an engineer had patented a method to compact cotton using a ""geometrical steam press"".