The Fire Mark CircleFounded 1934

Catalogueof

FIRE MARKS and

FIRE MEMORABILIA

Illustrating the history ofFire Insurance and Fire

Brigades

To be sold by auctionat the

FIRE MARK CIRCLE

AUTUMN MEETING

to be held at the

ROYAL CAMBRIDGE HOTEL

CAMBRIDGE

on

Saturday 9th October 2010

AUCTION NOTES

Auction Co-ordinator: Russell MacleanEmail: rmaclean999@aol.com

Auctioneer: Nick DreweEmail: nick.drewe@btinternet.com

Condition and DescriptionThe condition of the marks is given in accordance of the FMC standard guide.

Guide PriceThe guide price reflects the value of the items expressed by the vendors commensuratewith the rarity and condition of the individual lot.

ReservesSome lots have a reserve set by the vendor.

Commission BidsIf you are unable to attend in person commission bids will be accepted. Bids shouldbe confirmed by email or in writing in advance of the auction date to the Auction Co-ordinator, contact details above. Commission bidders are requested to reimburse thepostal costs.

Payment for LotsPayment for Lots purchased will be at the Auction, unless alternative arrangementshave been made previous to the Auction. Successful commission bidders will receivean invoice with the amount due. On payment, their Lots will be dispatched. Memberswho are both buying and selling at the auction must pay for the Lots bought and notexpect them to be offset against those sold.

DisputesIn the event of any dispute the Auctioneer’s decision is final.

n/s – not sold w/d – withdrawn

Prices achieved at the Fire Mark Circle Auction, April 2010 AGM, London

Lot £ Lot £ Lot £ Lot £ Lot £ Lot £

1 n/s 11 60 21 500 31 70 41 20 51 15

2 n/s 12 180 22 w/d 32 250 42 400 52 24

3 n/s 13 55 23 150 33 60 43 45 53 22

4 n/s 14 60 24 650 34 n/s 44 5

5 90 15 70 25 220 35 40 45 60

6 550 16 60 26 55 36 50 46 n/s

7 650 17 600 27 30 37 80 47 25

8 45 18 380 28 280 38 40 48 20

9 50 19 440 29 45 39 30 49 20

10 n/s 20 70 30 550 40 200 50 20

Fire Mark Circle Auction – 9th October 2010

Marks are classified by their appropriate Wright (W), Addis (A) or Bulau (B)numbers.

1. West of England Fire Ins Co. Tin, W48D/A48C-T, a fair example of this tinvariant, no original colour, some slight surface rust and fraying to the bottom of thepanel. (£40-£50)

2. West of England Fire Ins Co. Copper, W48G/A48G-C, a good example of thevariant with Alfred in profile, some colour remaining, no flattening or tearing at nailholes, some stress fractures to the body. (£100-£120) (Front cover - top picture)

3. Union Fire Office. Porter’s arm badge replica in copper, B573, made by VaughtonBros, Birmingham produced in the 1920s, mounted on an oval board. (£20-£30)

4. Atlas Ass Co. Copper, W50A/A50A-C, a goodexample of this original variant, no flattening to theglobe or figure, no tearing to nail holes, no originalcolour. (£50-£60)

5. County Fire Office. Two examples. (1) Copper, W45D/A45B-C, a very good exampleof this copper variant with all its original colour,some slight scuffing to the raised parts. (2) Copper,W45B/A45B-C, a fair example of this markshowing some original gilding and tearing at thenail holes. (£60-£70)

6. Yorkshire Fire Ins Co. Copper, W77B/A77B-C,a good example of this variant with some gildingshowing beneath a layer of house paint, sometearing at the nail holes. (£50-£60)

7. Westminster Ins Office. Lead, Policy No 50144,W5C(iii)/A5B-L, an excellent example of thisearly mark issued in the 1830s, some gilding in therecessed parts, otherwise no flaws. (£200-£220)

8. Royal Exchange Ass. Lead, Policy No 195946,W10J/A10C-L, an excellent example of the latevariant with most of its original colour remainingin a nice patina. (£70-£90)

Lot 7

Lot 8

9. Manchester Fire Ass Co. Copper, W71C/A71A-C, a good example of this coppervariant with some gilding remaining, no flattening to the shield but some tearing at thescroll ends. (£60-£70)

10. West of England Fire Ins Co. Tin, W48D/A48C-TI, two poor examples of thistin variant, no original colour, some slight surface rust and fraying, parts of both marksmissing. (£40-£50)

11. Eastern Counties. Tin,A144A*B-TI, an excellent exampleof this late 19th-cent mark of whatmust be the rarest mark in the auctionwith only one other ever having beenrecorded, the mark shows a niceageing patina and no rust or scuffingto the raised parts. (£350-£450)

12. Bristol Crown Fire Office. Lead,Policy No 9817, W6A(i)/A6A-L, agood example of this early markissued in the 1760s, some stressfractures to the top of the crown,otherwise a mark worth having.(£250-£300)

13. London and Lancs Fire Ins Co.Copper, W101B/A106E-C, anexcellent example of this secondvariant still retaining its originalcolour, some slight scuffing to theraised parts. (£70-£80)

14. Phoenix Ass Co. Copper,W23G/A23A-C, two good examplesof this variant with their spear tipsmissing, no tearing or flattening, partof the policy number is visible onone. (£70-£80)

15. West of England Fire Ins Co.Copper, W48F/A48F-C, a very goodexample of this copper variant, nooriginal colour, no flattening toArthur or tearing. (£120-£150) (Front cover - middle picture) Lot 12

Lot 11

16. Notts and Derby Fire Ins Co. Copper,W87F/A88C-C, a good example of thisLingar variant, some original gildingremains; unfortunately the garter tab ismissing. (£40-£50)

17. Union Fire Office. Copper, W4D/A4C-C,an excellent example of this early coppervariant, issued in the early 1800s, alloriginal colour with some slight scuffing tothe hands. (£120-£150)

18. British Fire Office. Copper,W30E/A30E-C, an excellent example ofthis variant issued in the early part of the19th-cent, one of the best full colourexamples to be seen at auction for sometime and still retaining its ageing patina.(£130-£150)

19. Northern Ass Co. Copper,W88A/A90A-C, a very good example ofthis Scottish mark that still retains itsoriginal colour, some slight scuffing to thelion, otherwise perfect. (£70-£80)

20. Liverpool London and Globe Ins Co.Copper, W105B/A112B-C, a very goodexample of this second variant still retainingits original colour, some slight scuffing tothe raised gilding, a very nice mark. (£60-£80)

21. Bristol Union Fire Ins Co. Tin,W54A/A54A-TI, a good example of thissingle issue mark from a short livedcompany (1818-1844), some originalcolour and gilding, but some surface rustand fraying. (£100-£120)

22. London Assurance. Lead,Policy No 12884, W9D/A9E-L, an excellentexample of this variant issued in 1730, no flawsto the mark and a must have. (£450-£500)

Lot 17

Lot 18

Lot 21

Lot 22

23. West of England Fire Ins Co. Tin, W48D/A48C-TI,a very good example of this tin variant, all originalcolour, some slight surface rust to the bottom of thepanel. (£120-£150) (Front cover - bottom picture)

24. Bath Fire Office. Lead, Policy No 7833,W11A(i)/A11A-L, an excellent example of this earlymark, issued about 1780, no original colour remains,the mark is sound in all aspects. (£500-£600)

25. Bath Sun Fire Office. Copper, W16B/A16B-C,an excellent example of this copper variant that stillretains most of its original gilding, no flattening to thesun or tearing at the nail holes, a nice mark. (£80-£100)

26. Royal Exchange Ass. Two examples (1) Lead,W10K/A10E-L, top part of crown missing, otherwisegood. (2) Lead, Policy No 39640, W10D/A10B-L, nocrown, otherwise good, issued 1760s. (£70-£80)

27. Protector Fire Ins Co. Copper, W80A/A81A-C, avery good example of this mark from a short livedcompany 1825-1835, no original colour remaining, noflattening or fraying. (£70-£80)

28. Sun Fire Office. Tin, B556/A3L-TI, a good example of this lithographed mark thatwas used for overseas business and marked Sun Londres 1710. (£40-£45)

29. Salop Fire Office. Copper, W20B/A20B*BL-C,a good example of this second variant issued in 1826,some gilding remains and evidence of the bluebackground is present, no fraying but some minorstress fractures at the leopards’ heads. (£60-£70)

30. Commercial Union Ass. Tin, W100A/A105A-TI,a good example of this single issue mark, some gildingand green colour to the salamander remain, somesurface rusting, no tearing to nail holes. (£50-£60)

31. Beacon Fire Ins Co. Copper, W56B/A56B-C,a very good example of this difficult to come byvariant, no flattening to the figures, small nail hole tearto bottom left-hand side. (£150-£180)

Lot 27

Lot 24

Lot 31

32. New Bristol Fire Office. Copper,W12C/A12B-C, an excellent example of this earlycompany’s mark, 1807, no original colour, scrollends still attached. (£150-£180)

33. Kent Ins Co. Copper, W36D/A36D-C, a verygood example of this copper variant, small repairto front of horse, no flattening to any parts of themark, no original colour remains. (£120-£150)

34. Wiltshire and Western Ass Co. Lead,Policy No 1271, W26A/A26A-L, a very goodexample of this original variant, no damage orflattening to any parts of the mark, no originalcolour remains, a perfect example and a must have.(£250-£300)

35. County Fire Office. Copper, W45E/A45D*B-C,a good example of this mark from a company thatissued seven variants, no flattening to Britannia,most of the original red garter colour remains as doessome gilding, garter tab intact. (£40-£50)

36. Norwich Union Fire Ins Soc. Copper,W29L/A29L*BL-C, a good example of this Gaudianovariant, some original paint and gilding, no flatteningto Justice or fraying or tearing to nail holes, top andbottom finials missing, issued about 1860. (£70-£90)

37. Royal Exchange Ass. Lead, Policy No 170063, W10J/A10C-L, a good example ofthis later lead variant with none of its original colour remaining although someevidence of gilding is present. (£60-£80)

38. Royal Exchange Ass. Lead, W10K/A10E-L, a good example of this last leadvariant with none of its original colour remaining although some evidence of gildingis present, crown intact. (£50-£60)

39. Sun Fire Office. Copper, W3I/A3F(ii)*BL-C, a good example of this later variantstill retaining its original blue background and gilding, with some scuffing to theraised sun, right fixing lug missing, issued 1850-65. (£40-£50)

40. British Fire Office. Copper, W30E/A30E-C, a very good example of this variantissued in the early part of the 19th-cent, some gilding and still retaining its ageingpatina. (£70-£80)

Lot 32

Lot 34

41. Hope Fire and Life Ass Co. Tin, W47C/A47C-TI, a fair example of this tin variantfrom this short lived company, some surface rust and fraying round edges and bottomof panel, mounted on a mahogany panel. (£50-£60)

42. Union Fire Office. Copper, W4E/A4D(i)*G-C, an excellent example of this earlycopper variant, issued in the early 1800s, all original colour with some slight scuffingto the hands. (£120-£150)

43. London and Lancs Fire Ins Co. Copper, W101B/A106E-C, an excellent exampleof this second variant still retaining its original colour, some slight scuffing to theraised parts. (£70-£80)

44. Hand in Hand Fire Office. Lead, Policy No 102887, W2C(i)/A2D(iv)-L, a verygood example of this second variant although missing the top of the orb, issued 1820,no gilding although some background colour remains. (£200-£220)

45. North British and Mercantile Ins Co. Copper, W102A/A108B-C, a fair exampleof this first variant from an Edinburgh and London company formed in the aftermathof the Tooley Street fire in1862, some stress fractures and parts missing. (£40-£50)

46. Norwich Union Fire Ins Soc. Two examples, Copper, W29O/A29M-C, a verygood and a good example of this later variant, with one still retaining its originalgilding. (£60-£70)

47. Wiltshire and Western Ass Co. Copper,W26B/A26A-C, a very good example of thiscopper variant, no damage or flattening toany parts of the mark, some original colourand lettering remain. (£280-£320)

48. Birmingham Fire Office Co. Copper,W42C/A42B-C, a good example of thisvariant, no original colour, no tearing orflattening to the fireman. (£70-£80)

49. Atlas Ins Co. Copper, W50A/A50A-C,a good example of this 19th-cent issue mark,no flattening to the globe or figure, sometearing at the top nail hole. (£70-£80)

50. Liverpool London and Globe Ins Co. Copper, 105B/A112B-C, a very goodexample of this second variant still retaining its original colour, some slight scuffingto the raised gilding, a very nice mark. (£60-£80)

Lot 47

51. County Fire Office. Copper, W45D/A45B-C, a very good example of this coppervariant with all its original colour, some slight scuffing to the raised parts. (£40-£50)

52. Royal Ins Co. Copper, W95B/A97B-C, a good example of this company’s mark,no original colour or damage. (£30-£40)

53. Sun Fire Office. Copper, W3I/A3F(ii)*BL-C, two examples of this later variant,one good, still retaining its original blue background and gilding, with some scuffingto the raised sun, the other poor, issued 1850-65. (£40-£50)

54. West of England Fire Ins Co. Tin, W48D/A48C-TI, a good example of this tinvariant, some original colour, some slight surface rust to the bottom of the panel. (£70-£80)

55. West of England Fire Ins Co. Copper, W48G/A48G-C, a good example of thevariant with Alfred in profile, some colour remaining, no flattening or tearing at nailholes, some stress fractures to the body. (£100-£120)

56. Guardian Fire and Life Ass Co. Copper, W57B/A57A-C, a good example of thismark with some colour and gilding remaining, no flattening or tearing. Phoenix Ass Co. Copper, W23K/A23E, a fair example of this variant, some originalcolour on the phoenix, tabs and part of panel missing. (£50-£60)

57. Manchester Fire Ass Co. Tin, W71E/A71B-TI, a good example of this tin variantwith some shield colour remaining, no flattening to the shield, no surface rust. (£60-£70)

58. Imperial Fire Ins Co. Copper, W40C/A40A-C, a good example of this mark, nooriginal colour, no flattening but some minor holes on the crown. (£40-£50)

59. County Fire Office. Copper, W45B/A45B-Z, a very good example of this zincvariant with all its original colour, some slight scuffing to the raised parts. (£40-£50)

60. Imperial Fire Ins Co. Copper, W40C/A40A-C, a good example of this mark,no original colour, no flattening but some minor tearing at the edges. (£40-£50)

61. Liverpool London and Globe Ins Co. Tin, B947/A112G-TI, a very goodexample of this later tin variant showing an ageing patina. (£30-£40)

62. La Providence. Zinc, B1277, a good example of this French mark, no colour andsome tearing at the nail holes. (£20-£30)

63. Selection of marks in poor condition to include Phoenix, Imperial, Queen andNew Bristol. (£20-£30)

END OF FIREMARKS. Continued over...

NOTES

64. The British Firemark 1680-1879 by Brian Wright. (£30-£40)

65. Selection of books on Firemarks, to include; York Museum, Shire, Williams, sixhistoric fires. (£30-£40)

66. Footprints of Assurance by Alwin Bulau, a regulation copy. (£25-£30)

67. Selection of framed fire insurance policies. To include Atlas issued in Norfolk1867, North British 1864 and a facsimile of the first policy issued by the Phoenix1782. (£30-£40)

STANDARD GUIDE FOR FIRE MARKS

(This is a private document for use by Fire Mark Circle members only)

M = Mint An unissued mark with full original colour and no nailholes unless provided in original manufacture.

Ex = Excellent A mark that is Mint in all aspects other than some slightscuffing to raised parts or a lead mark with no physicaldamage or deterioration.

VG = Very Good Marks with little or no physical damage, perhaps someminor corrosion around nail holes.

G = Good Substantially intact but may have some physical damagesuch as small splits, tears, holes or bruising or minorcorrosion.

F = Fair Some physical damage (e.g. the garter end missing fromNotts & Derby, or one or both spear ends missing from aPhoenix) but design essentially intact, and/or somesplits, tears or small and may be some corrosion.

P = Poor Design largely intact but may have a number of splits,tears and/or holes and may have some corrosion.

NOTES:Colour to be dealt with by explanation, describing the amount of originalcolour and its intensity. Marks re-painted in original colours will be identifiedas such. Mint condition marks will have complete original colour.