diff --git a/src/keri/core/serdering.py b/src/keri/core/serdering.py
index f010cbca1..5b211b404 100644
--- a/src/keri/core/serdering.py
+++ b/src/keri/core/serdering.py
@@ -27,18 +27,22 @@
                       MAXVERFULLSPAN, VER1FULLSPAN,  VER2FULLSPAN)
 from ..kering import SMELLSIZE, Smellage, smell
 
-from ..kering import Protocols, Serials, Rever, versify, deversify, Ilks
-from ..core import coring
+from ..kering import Protocols, Serials, versify, deversify, Ilks
+
+from .. import help
+from ..help import helping
+
+
+from . import coring
 from .coring import MtrDex, DigDex, PreDex, Saids,  Digestage
 from .coring import (Matter, Saider, Verfer, Diger, Number, Tholder, Tagger,
                      Ilker, Traitor, Verser, )
 
-from ..core import counting
-from ..core.counting import GenDex, AllTags, Counter
+from .counting import GenDex, AllTags, Counter
+
+from .structing import Sealer
+
 
-from .. import help
-from ..help import helping
-from ..help.helping import nonStringSequence
 
 logger = help.ogler.getLogger()
 
@@ -1280,6 +1284,13 @@ def _dumps(self, sad):
                     case "a":  # list of seals or field map of attributes
                         frame = bytearray()
                         for e in v:  # list of seal dicts
+                            try:
+                                sealer = Sealer(crew=e)
+                                frame.extend(sealer.qb64b)
+                            except kering.InvalidValueError:
+                                pass
+                                #unknown seal type so serialize as field map
+
                             pass
                             #if tuple(v) == eventing.SealEvent._fields:
                                 #eseal = eventing.SealEvent(**v)  # convert to namedtuple
diff --git a/tests/core/test_serdering.py b/tests/core/test_serdering.py
index 2d9bb346f..31583a84f 100644
--- a/tests/core/test_serdering.py
+++ b/tests/core/test_serdering.py
@@ -2649,6 +2649,7 @@ def test_cesr_native_dumps():
     raw = b'\x05\xaa\x8f-S\x9a\xe9\xfaU\x9c\x02\x9c\x9b\x08Hu'
     salter = core.Salter(raw=raw)
 
+    # replace with Salter.signers()
     csigners = core.generateSigners(raw=salter.raw, count=3)
     wsigners = core.generateSigners(raw=salter.raw, count=3, transferable=False)