Key to abbreviations                                                                                    vi

Acknowledgements                                                                                      vii

Foreword                                                                                                     viii

Introduction                                                                                                  ix

Overview of Chester Plates and Records                                                      xiv

Illustrations                                                                                                  

– First copper plate                                                                                      xvii

– Second copper plate                                                                                 xviii

– Third copper plate                                                                                     xix

– Last copper plate of makers' marks                                                           xx

– Last copper plate of assay office marks                                                      xxi

– Assay office punches                                                                                 xxi

– Page from small punch book                                                                      xxii

– Last page in last register                                                                             xxii

PART 1  -  ASSAY OFFICE and STANDARD MARKS 1686 to 1962

Date letters 1687 to 1697 and pre-1720 sterling silver marks                            1

Date letters 1701 to 1962                                                                                 2

The Chester City mark                                                                                     7

Britannia and post-1720 sterling silver marks                                                     8

The Leopard's head mark                                                                                 9

The Duty mark 1784 to 1890                                                                         10

Gold marks                                                                                                    11

Import marks for gold and silver                                                                     13

PART 2  -  MAKERS' MARKS 1570 to 1962

How to use the makers' marks tables                                                              17

Pictograms                                                                                                     19

Tables of Makers' marks                                                                              20

Monograms and cryptic marks                                                                      484

Appendices                                                                                                  491

Date profile of makers' registrations and assayed silverware                           492

Volume of gold and silver wares assayed at Chester                                      493

Assay office expenses and staff salaries                                                         494

Charges for assays                                                                                       496

Liverpool watchcase makers                                                                         497

Thimble makers                                                                                            500

Addenda to previous Ridgway publications                                                   501

Addenda to previous Priestley publication                                                     502

Bibliography                                                                                                 503

Subject Index                                                                                               504

Makers' Names and Marks Index                                                                 505

www.lepuitsauxlivres.com