Fire Mark Circle Auction Catalogue: July 2022 Bidding in this auction has now closed, the prices realised and winning bidder numbers are shown below. Click on any photo for a larger image and use the back button to return to this page. Back to Previous Page.

Lot. Photo. Description. Estimate. Winning Bid & Bidder No. 1. Phoenix Assurance Co. Copper. W23J(ii). A near mint example of this copper variant issued at the beginning of the 1820s all original colour, earlier similar marks had a familiar diagonally placed spear. £70-90 Bid: £80 Bidder No. 12 2. Caledonian Insurance Co. Copper. W43C. A near mint of this later variant issued by the oldest surviving Insurance Company in Scotland, to be allied with the Guardian in 1957. £40-50 Bid: £65 Bidder No. 4 3. Union Insurance Society of Canton. Tin. B1152. A very good example of this rare mark from the earliest Insurance Company in China, that started in 1835, and issued two variants during time in business, measuring 21.5 cms dia, some slight scuffing to the ships sails, a definite must for the worldwide collector. £80-100 Bid: £160 Bidder No. 9 4. Sun Londres 1710. Tin. B557. An excellent example of this later variant used primarily for overseas business, some minor scuffing to the raised parts. £35-45 Bid: £35 Bidder No. 8 5. Sun Fire Office. Copper. W3H. A very good example of the first copper variant issued in 1839, some original colour and gilding, mounted on a mahogany circular board. £30-40 Not Sold 6. Beacon Fire Insurance. Copper.W56A. An excellent example of this mark from this short-lived London company (6 years), the first of three highly decorative marks, no original colour no flattening to the very high-profile figure of Fortune, small repair at the centre wheel rim. This mark was photographed in the CII collection and was used to illustrate the first company variant in the British Fire Mark. £200-220 Bid: £260 Bidder No. 14 7. British Fire Office. Lead. W30B. A good example of the second variant issued by the company in the early 1800s, no original colour, some strengthening to the rear recessed parts, a mark not seen for several years. £150-180 Bid: £150 Bidder No. 5 The following four Sun Fire Office marks were retrieved from buildings damaged in the Coventry Blitz. Details of the properties recorded in the policy documents held at the Guildhall Library will be provided to the winning bidders. 8. Sun Fire Office. Lead. W3B. Policy No. 279808. A very good example of this mark issued in January 1770 to Wm Osborne on three houses he owned in Coventry, together with a cellar, Brewhouse and adjoining shop. £90-110 Bid: £140 Bidder No. 2 9. Sun Fire Office. Lead. W3C. Policy No. 500850. A very good example of this mark issued in January 1785 to a Thomas Soden an Inn Keeper in Coventry on a series of brick and tiled properties to the value of £500, mentioning that no Hazardous Trades were involved. £90-120 Bid: £140 Bidder No. 2 10. Sun Fire Office. Lead. W3A. Policy No. 16866. A very good example of this early mark issued in February 1720 to a Baker Ralph Butterist for his two houses and stable valued at £300 in the Parish of St Michael. Coventry. £120-150 Bid: £180 Bidder No. 6 11. Sun Fire Office. Lead. W3C. Policy No. 569209. A very good example of this mark issued in May 1790 to a Thomas Ashton a baker in Grey Friars Lane Coventry for his new house and bakery, utensils and stock and a further five all brick and tile dwellings to the value of £400. £90-120 Bid: £140 Bidder No. 2 12. Derwent and Tamar Fire Insurance. Copper. B1739. A very good example of this Australian mark from a company in Hobart Tasmania who started in business in 1838, all original colour, some scuffing to the raised parts. Withdrawn. 13. Mercantile Fire Mutual Insurance Co. Copper. B1575. A very good example of this single issue oval Australian mark from a company in Sydney who started in business in 1878, all original black background colour and gilded lettering, mounted on a square frame. Withdrawn. 14. Provident Institute Insurance. Copper. B1749. A very good example of this Australian mark from a short-lived company who started in business in Melbourne in 1859 and ceased trading in 1865, all original gilding to the sunburst and lettering. Withdrawn. 15. Tariff Insurance Co. Cast Iron. A very good example of this promotional mark from the 1960s in unusual cast iron issued by the Fire and Accident Underwriters Assoc. the company was later closed down on a ruling from the Government. Withdrawn. 16. Farmers & General Fire & Life Insurance Inst. Copper. W92B. A very good example of this second variant issued in the early 1840s, no original colour due to the brown house paint, no surface damage or flattening to the wheat sheaf. The company had the Duke of Rutland as one of its directors, the predecessor of our past President. £40-50 Not Sold 17. Atlas Insurance Co. Copper. W50A. A very good example of this only copper mark to be issued by the company for sole use in the UK, later oval tin variants were issued for overseas and promotional use, all original dulled colour, no flattening to Atlas or the Globe. Addis notes that several different background colours were used in the mark. £40-50 Not Sold 18. County Fire Office. Tin. W45F. An excellent example of the last mark to be issued by the Company, still retaining all its original colour and lithographed design, some slight scuffing to Britannia. £40-50 Bid: £45 Bidder No. 4 19. Manchester Fire & Life Assurance Co. Copper. W71D. An excellent example of this variant still retaining all its original colour and gilding, no surface damage or flattening to the shield. £40-50 Bid: £45 Bidder No. 10 20. West of England Fire Insurance Co. Copper. W48B. A very good example of this second of seven variants to be issued by this this long established company which was in business in Exeter for all of the 19th century, all original dulled colour and gilding, no flattening to Alfred or other surface damage. £60-80 Bid: £65 Bidder No. 4 21. Liverpool and London Fire & Life Insurance Co. Copper. W96A. A very good example of this single issue company mark that was only in business for 17 years before merging with the more well-known Liverpool and London and globe, some rusting to the top of the panel, nice original colour, (Addis shows some variation in the green and red colourways of this mark). £40-50 Bid: £40 Bidder No. 10 22. Royal Insurance Co. Copper. W95B. A good example of this repainted mark with the green background replaced with black, some fraying at the edges, no surface damage. £20-30 Bid: £20 Bidder No. 3 23. Imperial Fire Insurance Co. Copper. W40C. A good example of this 64 Pearl variant, the third of eight marks, no original colour and no flattening to the crown. £30-40 Bid: £30 Bidder No. 3 24. Norwich Union Fire Insurance Soc. Copper. W29O. A good example of this later variant, no original background colour but some dulled gilding to Justice, no surface damage. £30-40 Bid: £25 Bidder No. 5 25. Norwich Union Fire Insurance Soc. Copper. W29P. A good example of this later variant still showing some original red background colour, some minor fraying at the edges. PLUS. Norwich Union Fire Insurance Soc. Tin. W29Q. A good example of the last mark to be issued by the company for use in both the UK and overseas, some background colour, dulled lithograph of Justice, and surface rusting, issued in the early part of the 20th century. £40-50 Bid: £35 Bidder No. 10 End of Sale