www.925-1000.com

:) Today was my lucky day. I found four english tablespoons at a local fleamarket in Austria offered as silver plated.

I really tried my best with the hallmarks, but as usual there are questions left:
Sterling
London
1817
George III (1786-1821)
"WE/WF": William Elay & William Fearn, founded 1797

But then there are also two of the tiniest hallmarks, presumably with an "A" in it. Are those Austrian assey marks, like on my "real" Austrian silver? Or is it somthing else?

Hi Thomas,

These are journeymen's, or tally, marks. They were used in the larger workshops to identify the actual silversmith who made the item.

See Tally mark at: http://www.925-1000.com/silverglossary5.html

Trev.

dognose wrote:Hi Thomas,

These are journeymen's, or tally, marks. They were used in the larger workshops to identify the actual silversmith who made the item.

See Tally mark at: http://www.925-1000.com/silverglossary5.html

Trev.

I LOVE THIS FORUM!

Dear Trev., thank you so much! I only started collecting silver a few months ago. The more I learn about it, the more unexpected new and highly interesting aspect pop up. I have never heard/read of those "tally marks" before. So i tried to classify them into the hallmark-system I already knew. I am so glad you disabused me. Thank you, thank you, thank you! :)