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Philadelphia Contributionship Fire Mark
From the collection of National Museum of American History. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
National Museum of American History’s own descriptionSubjects
Credit linePhiladelphia Contributionship Fire Mark. 1802-1805. unknown. National Museum of American History, Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection. CC0.
