South St. Louis Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company Fire Mark
South St. Louis Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company Fire Mark
- Description (Brief)
- Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s 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 alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
- The South St. Louis Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company of St. Louis, Missouri issued this zinc fire mark in 1859.The oval fire mark features raised text that reads “SOUTH/St. LOUIS/MUTUAL.” The South St. Louis Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company operated from 1859 to around 1878.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- fire mark
- date made
- 1859
- maker
- unknown
- place made
- United States: Missouri
- Physical Description
- zinc (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 5 5/8 in x 7 13/16 in; 14.2875 cm x 19.84375 cm
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0518
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0518
- Credit Line
- Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
- subject
- Insurance
- See more items in
- Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement
- Cultures & Communities
- Advertising
- Work
- Firefighting Collection
- Fire Marks
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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