Lot 756

Description

Fire Marks, for Royal Exchange Assurance of London, cast in lead (180mm x 148mm), Royal Exchange building with crown above all in gold paint, number below (Bulau 630); another for Hand-in-Hand Fire and Life Insurance Society, cast in lead (210mm x 193mm), hands in greeting with crown above, number below (Bulau 517); another for Sun Fire Insurance, cast in lead (188mm x 172mm), sun with face with alternating straight and wavy rays around, number below (Bulau 537); also, docket No.10152, 8.11.1965 for £3 from Board of Fire Commissioners of New South Wales for one helmet. Very fine - good very fine. (4)

Fire Marks were plaques attached to the face of buildings to indicate to the fire department that the building had been insured against fire damage by the company named on the plaque. Many of the English fire insurance companies also opened offices in Australia.