The =Chester= hall-mark down to 1697 is the city arms, viz. a dagger erect between three sheaves of wheat. In 1701 the mark became three demi-lions with wheatsheaves, when Chester was reappointed as one of the assay offices in the reign of William III. The shield was again changed after 1775 to the older form with the dagger which is still in use at the Chester assay office. We give on the opposite page an example of the mark in 1775, with the three demi-lions superimposed on the shield with the three wheatsheaves. The later mark, of the year 1800, shows the dagger with the wheatsheaves. It will be observed that these marks have the leopard’s head and the lion passant, the hall-mark and the standard-mark of the London office. The present marks used at the Chester Assay Office, together with the maker’s initials, are the lion passant, the City arms, and the date letter. The letters now in use are Italic capitals commencing with ~A~ in 1901. The letter for 1915 is ~P~. * * * * * An example is given of ~Norwich~ marks stamped on a tall wine-cup, about 1620, of the James I period. The castle and lion is the hall-mark. A Tudor rose surmounted by a crown is also found on Norwich silver as the standard mark. The mark of the orb and cross given opposite is the mark of Peter Peterson the maker. * * * * * The ~York~ mark prior to 1700 is of a peculiar composite character. It is now held to represent half leopard’s head and half fleur-de-lis conjoined. The example shown is on a flagon in the possession of the Corporation of York, and was made by Marmaduke Best, whose initials are stamped; the letter ~R~ is the date letter for 1674. The other example, about 1800, shows the hall-mark with the St. George’s cross and the five diminutive lions. The date-mark was obliterated on this specimen. The maker’s mark is N.G. The duty mark was too worn to reproduce. It will be noticed, as at Chester, the leopard’s head and lion passant are included in the marks. CHESTER [Illustration: 1775 Maker, Richard Richardson.] [Illustration: 1800] NORWICH [Illustration: _c._ 1620 WINE CUP (illustrated p. 125).] YORK [Illustration: 1674 Maker, Marmaduke Best.] [Illustration: _c._ 1800] PROVINCIAL MARKS Newcastle-on-Tyne (1702-1884) Birmingham, Sheffield (1773 to present day)