Customer Reviews

Hallmark: A History of the London Assay Office

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J.S. Forbes spent some thirty years as head of the London Assay office in charge of testing and marking silver and gold objects. The volume, which has been thoroughly researched traces the history of the assaying of silver objects from the thirteenth century to the present. Although limited to the London assay office the book necessarily traces the work of all the assay offices. The author shows how silver objects were tested for metal content and then marked with the sterling standard for 925 grams of silver per 1000 or with the Britannia standard for a higher silver content. He then shows the development of the symbols,i.e. the lion passant for steling, the symbol for the city of London, and the addition of the date year. Interestingly, the date year is a great benefit to the collector and historian who thereby knows the exact date of production. However, the year was added so that if articles were found to be below standard the officers in charge for that year could be identified. Forbes shows how the Goldsmnith's Company in LKondon gained and retained control of the hallmarking to the present day. The book is clearly written and well researched. It is a miust for anyone interested in English silver and is unlikely to be replaced as a standard refernce work.