38
The seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the Seal of Crystal Lotus (see figure 32), which originally was the official seal of Čhāophrayā Phra-khlang who held the post of kōsāthibǭdī.[b 1] After the Ratsadākǭnphiphat Hall[b 2] was established in the year 2417 BE[b 3] during the reign of King Rama V and the Department of Grand Exchequers was split from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and elevated to a Ministry of Grand Exchequers in the year 2418 BE, the Seal of Crystal Lotus has since become the official seal of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, respectively. It consists of a greater version and a minor version.
In addition to the Seal of Crystal Lotus, there used to be a Seal of Blooming Lotus for the office of undersecretary, a Seal of Budding Lotus for the office of chief accountant, a Seal of Blue Lotus for use with a lac wax, and an embossed Seal of Crystal Lotus on coloured papers for sealing envelopes. Except the embossed Seal of Crystal Lotus, all these seals are no longer in use. They were created during the time Čhāophrayā Phānuwongsamahākōsāthibǭdī (Thūam Bunnāk)[b 4] was the secretary of state in charge of the ministry when it was still known as Department of Foreign Affairs.
The official seal of the Ministry of Agricultural Affairs is the Seal of Varuṇa Upon Serpent (see figure 33). The Charter on the Use of Seals states that Čhāophrayā Phonlathēp Sēnābǭdīsīchainoppharat Kasēttrāthikān[b 5] uses nine seals, namely—
