Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks & Makers' Marks
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Town Marks of France ~ Before 1789 III
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Valois Arms
French Town & City Marks
before 1789
Hallmarking in France began as early as the mid-thirteenth century. Initially only with a town or 'maison commune' mark. The individual maker's mark began its appearance in 14th century Paris and spread to the outlying areas. In 1460, a royal edict called for the use of the variable date letter with crowned top. The 'countermark', the first official type of standard guarantee mark used by French assay masters, was decreed in 1543. In 1672 appeared the 'charge' and 'discharge' marks, both essentially duty marks, but the first also functioned as a further standard guarantee.
Various combinations of the above marks were used at various times and in different areas. Below are illustrated most of the town marks of France listed with the city having jurisdiction over them.
Bourbon Arms

French  Town  Marks  Menu
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A•B          B•C          C•L          L•M          M•Q          R•T          T•V
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Town Mark Community Year Commenced Jurisdiction
Coutances Town Hallmark Coutances 1751 Caen
Daligre Town Hallmark Daligre ci-devant Marans 1758 La Rochelle
Dieppe Town Hallmark Dieppe 1599 Rouen
Dijon Town Hallmark Dijon 15?? Dijon
Dinan Town Hallmark Dinan 1746 Rennes
Dole Town Hallmark Dole - Besançon
Douai Town Hallmark Douai DATES Lille
Draguignan Town Hallmark Draguignan 1751 Aix
Dunkerque Town Hallmark Dunkerque 1753 Lille
Etampes Town Hallmark Étampes - Paris
Falaise Town Hallmark Falaise 1750 Caen
Fecamp Town Hallmark Fécamp 1745 Rouen
Fontenay Town Hallmark Fontenay le Comte 1571 Poitiers
Gien Town Hallmark Gien 1757 Orléans
Gisors Town Hallmark Gisors 1754 Rouen
Grasse Town Hallmark Grasse - Aix
Grenoble Town Hallmark Grenoble - Grenoble
Guise Town Hallmark Guise and Vervins 1745 Reims
Issoire Town Hallmark Issoire 1766 Riom
Issoudun Town Hallmark Issoudun 1757 Bourges
Joinville Town Hallmark Joinville 1757 Troyes
La Charite Town Hallmark La Charité 1757 Bourges
Lafere Town Hallmark Lafère - Reims
Landrecy Town Hallmark Landrecy 1779 Lille
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French  Town  Marks  Menu
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A•B          B•C          C•L          L•M          M•Q          R•T          T•V
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Related Pages at 925-1000.com:
French Hallmarks
World Hallmarks
British Hallmarks Explained
Dutch Hallmarks
German Hallmarks
Austrian Hallmarks
Swedish Hallmarks
Finnish Hallmarks
Norwegian Makers
David-Andersen Marks
Georg Jensen Marks
Mexican Silver Marks
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