IMPRESSIONS OF THE MARKS IN USE AT THE ASSAY OFFICE, GOLDSMITHS' HALL, LONDON, FROM 29TH MAY 1878 TO 29TH MAY 1879. (Report of the Committee of the House of Commons, 31st July 1878.) (Evidence of Walter Prideaux, Esq.) Owing to the great variety of objects sent to be assayed, nearly three hundred punches are required. For ordinary use, four sizes are sufficient; but there are diminutive stamps for the bows and rims of watch cases, and other detached pieces, as well as small plain gold rings, &c. Some of these punches are set in a frame, for the convenience of stamping by one blow; others are engraved, or cut in one stamp, as for the lower standard gold, the 18-carat stamp, &c. The Inland Revenue supply the dies or punches to several of the Assay Halls upon a requisition to that effect, and they are prepared by their own engraver. They have supplied to the London Hall during the last three years over 100 in each year. The Birmingham Assay Office obtained from the Inland Revenue Office, in 1875, as many as 102 punches, and they would serve probably for several years, but having them from that source is not compulsory. The only stamp which is by law issued by the Inland Revenue is the duty mark of the Sovereign's head; if made elsewhere it would be a forgery. It will be observed in the following impressions that many of the stamps have more than one mark, the sets of two or four being grouped together, so as to be affixed to the plate at one blow. The largest marks for silver are stamped separately. The sizes of the marks vary from a quarter of an inch down to a sixteenth. MARKS FOR THE OLD STANDARD GOLD. FOR MARKING GOLD OF THE 15, 12, 9 CARAT STANDARDS. CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF PLATE FROM THE 15TH TO THE 19TH CENTURY, On which the Plate workers' marks occur, with the Names and Dates of Entry at the Hall, from 1697 to 1800. THE following list includes most of the important articles of plate which bear date marks, noted for their historic interest or excellence of workmanship, and others which have been considered worthy of preservation from the 15th to the 19th centuries. The makers' marks will be found useful in ascertaining approximate dates, in cases where the hall-marks are obliterated, and for general reference. No records exist at Goldsmiths' Hall of the names of the makers, until the date of the introduction of the New or Britannia Standard in April 1697. From and after this time, the names, addresses, and dates of entry at the Hall, together with an impression of the actual stamps adopted by them, are carefully recorded. By the kind permission of the Master and Wardens of the Company, who granted us free access to these interesting documents, we have considered them of sufficient importance to reproduce them literatim et seriatim. Being arranged alphabetically, a reference from this chronological list by the first letters of the maker's name, will show the exact form of stamp used respectively by them. The makers' marks previous to 1697 are copied from the original stamps as they appear on plate, the others being fully described. Those between February 1675 and April 1697 were struck on a copper plate, still preserved at the Hall; but no other record exists. A copy of this plate is here given, the marks being placed in alphabetical order for easy reference. In making this list as complete as possible, although compiled by us from actual inspection in most cases, we have been necessarily indebted to many gentlemen for assistance, especially to Mr. Horatio |