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This is The Great Seal of the United States.
Shown are the die, the counter-die, and the press.
The device is kept at the State Department.

"These stand in the Exhibit Hall of the Department, [and are now] inside a glass enclosure which is kept locked at all times, even during the sealing of a document. The mahogany cabinet’s doors also are kept locked, and the press is bolted and padlocked in position except when in use." [1]

More information, including photographs, about the history of the seal dating back to July 4, 1776, can be read at the State Department's Bureau of Public Affairs.

The Great Seal in use today

Pixel Wrangler Good answer Pixel. I thought it was some kind of hot air regulator.

another photo commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Great_Seal_press_with_All...

Thanks Pixel Wrangler for figuring out what this is. We'll update the catalog record. They may keep it locked up today but back then apparently it was not so secure.

To stamp a document.

Meget interessant - jeg skulle gjerne ha sett flere bilder fra dette prosjektet. Hadde det vært mulig å sette sammen et flickr-album med flere bilder fra dette transiranske fotoalbumet?

What a great perspective! My compliments! Excellent work by the photographer, thanks for sharing! Enrique

Takk for innspill, Kristian. Vi skal se på muligheten for å legge ut flere bilder fra prosjektet.

Beautiful Shot!!

Wonderful!