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West of England Fire and Life Insurance Company 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 late 17th century, English insurance companies maintained private fire brigades that were paid to respond to fires at properties they insured. Properties were identified by leaden badges (fire marks) bearing a insurance company’s emblem and often stamped with the customer’s policy number.
National Museum of American History’s own descriptionSubjects
Credit lineWest of England Fire and Life Insurance Company Fire Mark. 1807-1894. National Museum of American History, Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection. CC0.
