27th-26th century BC. A substantial serpentine cylinder seal with contest scene; accompanied by a museum-quality impression and typed and signed scholarly note issued by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Cylinder seal of Black Stone 31 x 28 mm. The design is a contest frieze of nine creature, [sic] all standing on their hind legs. Two heroes, the one nude save for triple-stranded belt, the other with bird's wings at the waist, are both succouring a horned animal on each side and the remaining space is filled with two crossed lions and a hero with strange frontal face and spiky hair. A tall pole and another item are fillers. This is a seal in the Early Dynastic II style, from North Mesopotamia or eastern Syria, c. 2700-2600 B.C. It has a very full design and though the seal is a little worn, the design remains clear.' 42 grams, 31mm (1 1/4"). The Signo collection, the property of a West London businessman, formed in the late 1980s-early 1990s; item number W-608; academically researched and catalogued by the late Professor Lambert in the early 1990s; accompanied by an original typed and signed scholarly note by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert.