Beginning in the 1750s, American insurance companies issued fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and logo of the insurer, and often included the customer’s policy number. The policyholders would then affix the mark to their home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and some companies used the mark to alert volunteer firefighters that their efforts to save the property would be rewarded.