Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks & Makers' Marks
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Town Marks of France ~ Before 1789 V
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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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Town Mark Community Year Commenced Jurisdiction
Maubeuge Town Hallmark Maubeuge - Lille
Meaux Town Hallmark Meaux - Paris
Melle Town Hallmark Melle - Poitiers
Melun Town Hallmark Melun 1727 Paris
Mende Town Hallmark Mende 1757 Montpellier
Mezieres Town Hallmark Mézières 1746 Reims
Metz Town Hallmark Metz 1635 Metz
Milhau Town Hallmark Milhau 1770 Toulouse
Montargis Town Hallmark Montargis 1737 Orléans
Montauban Town Hallmark Montauban 1705 Toulouse
Montpellier Town Hallmark Montpellier - Montpellier
Morlaix Town Hallmark Morlaix 1607 Rennes
Moulins Town Hallmark Moulins 1736 Riom
Nantes Town Hallmark Nantes 1579 Nantes
Narbonne Town Hallmark Narbonne 1669 Perpignan
Nevers Town Hallmark Nevers 1757 Bourges
Nîmes Town Hallmark Nîmes 1586 Montpellier
Niort Town Hallmark Niort 15?? Poitiers
Noyon Town Hallmark Noyon 1748 Amiens
Orleans Town Hallmark Orléans 1611 Orléans
Town Hallmark Paris 1260 Paris
Parthenay Town Hallmark Parthenay 1745 Poitiers
Pau Town Hallmark Pau - Pau
Payrat Town Hallmark Payrat, Ste. Colombe
and Chalabre 		1753 Toulouse
Perigueux Town Hallmark Perigueux - Bordeaux
Perpignan Town Hallmark Perpignan - Perpignan
Pezenas Town Hallmark Pézenas 1586 Montpellier
Poitiers Town Hallmark Poitiers - Poitiers
Pons Town Hallmark Pons en Saintonge 1785 La Rochelle
Pontoise Town Hallmark Pontoise 1752 Paris
Provins Town Hallmark Provins 1759 Paris
Puy en Velay Town Hallmark Puy en Velay 1367 Riom
Quimper Town Hallmark Quimper 1780 Nantes
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French  Town  Marks  Menu
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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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