United Life, Fire, and Marine Insurance Company

United Life, Fire, and Marine Insurance Company

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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 United Life, Fire and Marine Insurance Company of Covington, Kentucky issued this tinned sheet iron fire mark between 1865 and 1871. The rectangular fire mark bears raised text that reads “UNITED/KY/INS.Co.” The United Life, Fire, and Marine Insurance Company operated from 1865 until around 1871.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
fire mark
date made
1865-1871
maker
unknown
Physical Description
tinned sheet iron (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 4 3/4 in x 6 3/4 in; 12.065 cm x 17.145 cm
ID Number
2005.0233.0541
accession number
2005.0233
catalog number
2005.0233.0541
Credit Line
Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
subject
Fire Fighting
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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