Name/Title
Philadelphia Contributionship Fire MarkDescription
The Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire is the oldest property insurance company in the United States. It was organized by Benjamin Franklin in 1752; incorporated in 1768.
Four clasped hands, thumb up, representing the community helping each other.
From the Milton Celsnick Collection of Penn's Landing, Philadelphia.
An old label states that this plaque was removed from 322 Delancey Street, Philadelphia.
Date: 1773
Measurement: 15.5" by 10.5" by 2"
Material: Lead casting, pine backboard, possibly cast by John Stow (of Pass and Stow who cast the Liberty Bell). Shield likely carved by the first surveyors of the Contributorship Joseph Fox and Samuel Rhoades.
Note the "Rose Head" Nail which helps to date the piece as original.
Condition: Original pine backboard, condition consistent with age and use, wood and nail losses as depicted; typical trivial chips, and repaired shrinkage cracks.
Reference: Bulau, "Footprints of Assurance", pages 26 and 27, number 8; see, "American Fire marks, The Insurance Company of North America Collection", 1933, p. 20.
Fire mark: Lead hands mounted on a wood board With Benjamin Franklin and volunteer firemen as principal organizers of the city’s first insurance company in 1752, the symbol of the four crossed hands on wood suggested both the idea of mutual support and the company’s relationship with the volunteer fire companies. In the event of fire, it was thought that the company’s badge, or mark, would enlist the assistance of fellow mutual policyholders who shared equally in losses and the four-handed fireman’s carry would remind the volunteer fire companies that fellow volunteers were policyholders. In addition, gilded hands on a black painted board served as advertising for the new insurance company. (Fireman's Hall Museum - https://www.firemanshallmuseum.org/fire-marks/)
marks exactly like this one were being made in 1775- https://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/contributionship/essay-past.cfmInscription/Signature/Marks
An old label states that this plaque was "Taken from Premises No. 322 Delancey Street, Philadelphia, Penna. Firemark of Philadelphia Contributorship placed on building about 1776."Other Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
Number Type
ReferencesOther Number
Reference: Bulau, "Footprints of Assurance", pages 26 and 27, number 8; see, "American Fire marks, The Insurance Company of North America Collection", 1933, p. 20. - https://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/contributionship/intro.cfm, (https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_1305964)Provenance
Provenance Detail
LabelNotes
An old label states that this plaque was removed from 322 Delancey Street, Philadelphia and was placed on the building circa 1776.General Notes
Note Type
Historical NoteNote
Per the National Museum of American History: The Philadelphia Contributionship was established in 1752, becoming the first successful fire insurance company in America. Benjamin Franklin was one of its founding members. The Contributionship began as a mutual insurance company and this concept is represented by its “Hand in Hand” fire mark. The Philadelphia Contributionship is still in operation. The square board in their collection is only one of two known surviving marks from the original run of at least two hundred and fifty square boards. Subsequent marks were on shield-shaped boards, which dates this board after 1753. (https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_1305964)Note Type
Historical NoteNote
From the Contributionship Historian:
The policy number would have been 1721… You have the building survey which is indeed in the name of Evan Evans, dated 1773 (as opposed to 1763). I looked for the original policy to see if any additional information was available. Unfortunately, we don’t have it. Based on what you have forwarded me and the information available:
1.I do believe the firemark is original.
2.I don’t have a problem with the 1786 date for the construction of the house. It doesn’t conflict with the construction of the back building. It may be that the back building is associated with an earlier house which was replaced by Jonathan Evans, Jr., with that mentioned, in 1786, or that it was previously associated with another parcel. Regardless, I don’t think there is a conflict.
3.Though one can’t date that label on the back, I suggest it was made in the first quarter of the 20th century. The label used is one which would have been frequently used by the corner drug store, etc. They were generally made to label prescription bottles and similar containers. And believe it or not, labeling objects in the manner shown here was a fad in the early 20th century! I have seen this done many times before with various items.
We don’t have any additional information about the buildings or the Evans family… If you want to do a really deep dive into this, I suggest contacting the Philadelphia City Archives, here: https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-records/city-archives/