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.cfm
From Catalog III
The four clasped hands of the Contributionship, the mutual fire insurance company Franklin organized in 1752 — the oldest property insurer in America. This mark, removed from 322 Delancey Street, was possibly cast by John Stow of Pass and Stow, the founders who recast the Liberty Bell. It hung on a Philadelphia house as Franklin's institutions were meant to: in plain sight, doing their work.
Date
Philadelphia, 1773
Author / maker
Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire
Inscription
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."
References
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)
Notes
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)
Cite this object as“Philadelphia Contributionship Fire Mark.” The Soiferman Collection, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. EIS LIBRIS, https://eislibris.com/objects/philadelphia-contributionship-fire-mark (accessed [date]).
