Among the primary sources of Indian history seals have not received the attention they deserve. No systematic work has been done on the subject so far and no steps have been taken for their preservation on scientific lines. In order to fill this lacuna the National Archives of India has embarked upon a new Project of Cataloguing the Oriental Seals found on original documents in its custody. This pioneering venture, which has been undertaken by the Oriental Records Division under the guidance of my colleague Shri A. I. Tirmizi, Assistant Director of Archives, will, it is hoped, open up new vistas of research.