NOTES ON FIRE INSURANCE MARKS. 
5 1 
There appears to be a distinction made by some Collectors be¬ 
tween Fire Marks and Fire Plates, limiting the term Fire Marks 
to the early issues on which the number of the Policy was stamped, 
or in rare cases painted, but either term appears appropriate. The 
date of the earliest—The Phoenix, Sun, Royal Exchange—would 
range from 1683 to perhaps 1790. Companies* continued later to 
affix Marks, but they were not an essential part of the Policy after 
that date, and were not stamped with the number of the Policy. 
These later issues without the number of the Policy are those 
which are sometimes referred to as “ Plates.” They are never of 
lead, generally of stamped sheet copper, very rarely of brass ; and, 
the quite recent issues are generally of iron. The handsome, care¬ 
ful design and finish of the early Marks are noticeable. The 
demand for cheapness and production in quantity, and the lack of 
artistic design are accountable for some very poor specimens of the 
latest issues. The earliest Plates of The Sun, and that of the 
Phoenix with the word Protection underneath, are made of sheet 
lead hammered into a mould ; the rest of the lead specimens are 
cast. 
In early days, the Marks were undoubtedly removed when the 
Policies lapsed, as is shewn by an Order issued by the Directors of 
the Sun Office in 1719, “That all the Marks of relinquishers be at 
once taken down.” The Companies, however, as their business 
grew, would have been unable to keep up this regulation, and we 
find about the close of the 18th Century most Companies inserted 
in their Policies that the Insurance lapsed on failure to pay the 
premium on a certain date ; and thus the old Marks were left on 
the houses meaningless and without interest, until the busy 
Collector found in them a fresh subject for his Museum. 
The symbolism of many of these designs is an interesting study 
of itself. Some designs are just crammed with more or less 
fanciful or appropriate Emblems. 
Take the Alliance, a London Company. They select one of the 
Towers of the Tower of London as their Emblem. Those who 
know the 12-feet thickness of these walls will recognize the dis¬ 
crimination of the choice. The stratification of the rock on which 
the Tower is built is perhaps conglomerate, but evidently the 
foundation is sound, for the Alliance has absorbed no fewer than 
23 Companies, and is still going strong. 
Then, look at the Royal Exchange. Not only have they taken 
that centre of the World’s Money Market as their Emblem, but 
