The letter ~c~ is illustrated from a mark on a cupping-bowl, 1698, and should be compared--as should all the letters in this Court Hand alphabet--with the letter ~c~ (1640) in the series 1638 to 1657. The letter ~c~ (1698) and ~q~ (1711) are shown opposite. The maker’s initials, +Ke+, stand for William Keith. The letter ~d~ (1699) is given elsewhere (page 353). The letter ~f~ (1701) is the mark on a sugar-caster illustrated (page 269). The maker, Christopher Canner, stamps the first two letters of his surname. The letter ~i~ (1704) is unlike any modern i, and is from a Monteith illustrated (page 135). The maker, Louis Mettayer, uses the first two letters of his surname. The letter ~k~ (1705) is equally unfamiliar. It is from a teapot and stand. The maker, Simon Pantin, signs the first letters of his Christian and surnames. In 1739 this was made compulsory by statute. The letter ~r~ (1712) is shown on a caster illustrated (page 269). All the marks on opposite page denote the Higher Standard--figure of Britannia and lion’s head erased. The Higher Standard (1697-1720) [Illustration: 1698 Maker, William Keith.] [Illustration: 1705 Maker, Simon Pantin.] [Illustration: 1707 Maker, Robert Cooper.] [Illustration: 1709 Maker, Seth Lofthouse.] [Illustration: 1711 Maker, William Keith.] Other Marks illustrated are =1697= (p. 217), =1701= (p. 269), =1704= (p. 135), =1712= (p. 269). LONDON MARKS 1716 to 1778 GEORGE I, GEORGE II, and GEORGE III (the first quarter of his reign). In the sixth year of the reign of George I, in 1720, the old silver standard was revived. After 1720 the figure of Britannia and the lion’s head erased disappear from silver. In 1721 the leopard’s head and the lion passant reappear as hall and standard marks, and from this date the provincial offices again took up the assaying of silver. In 1721 the leopard’s head was in a square shield, as shown on page 357. In 1722 and 1723 the leopard’s head was in a circular shield. In 1724 and 1725 the shield for the leopard’s head was in an escutcheon with a rounded base (see illustration, page 357). From 1726 to 1728 the leopard’s head again is in a circular shield, and this and the previous years, 1722 and 1723, are the only occasions when the circular shield was used. The shapes of the shields of the lion passant during this time are shown in the Table (page 357). From 1729 to 1738 the leopard’s head is in a shield with a pointed base, and the lion is in an oblong shield. From 1739 to 1755 the lion is in a shield which is irregular in shape following the outline. The leopard’s head from 1739 to 1750 is in a shield of elaborate shape, and the whiskers of the leopard are clearly marked in the stamp. From 1751 to 1755 the shield for the leopard’s head changes. These differences can be seen in the Table (page 357). From 1756 to 1775 the leopard’s head has another shield. The lion from 1756 to 1895 (139 years) retains the same shaped shield.