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.
The Sun Fire Office of London, England issued this lead fire mark around 1785 to 1790. The fire mark consists of a rounded upper half featuring a sun face with sixteen rays alternating straight and wavy. Underneath the sun, a rectangular panel bears the policy number “528906.” The Sun Fire Office operated from 1710 until 1959, when it merged with the Alliance Insurance Company.
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