Please help me identify this hallmark.

[calculus]

I have tried to find this mark. It is S.F. The "F" is unique, but I can't find it. It is a sterling cigarette case. I do not know for sure if this is American.
Any help would be appreciated.

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[silverport]

»JF.« intertwined = Wholesalers mark of Johann Franz jr. (jr. = junior).

Hello »calculus«

Welcome to the Forum.

Sorry that’s has needed a very long while now, to get an answer on yours question:

The marking »STERLING« I think I don’t need to explain their meaning? I think, also not the first part of markings in the then following rectangle frame? The »S.« belongs to the »925« silver fineness indication — this kind of fineness marking is usual in Scandinavian countries; in Finland it’s an »H« (= Hopea = S = Silver). So it looks like, yours cigarettes case is maybe made in Germany, by an unknown producer, and marked from the Exporter for the Export to a Scandinavian country. But normally these countries have an »Imported« mark — that marking seems to be missing here?

The traders mark, »JF.« intertwined, is that of the wholesaler for Gold- and Silverwares, Johann Franz jr. (jr. = junior), from Schwäbisch Gmünd, in Germany. Schwäbisch Gmünd and Pforzheim are German “capitals” of Gold- and Silverwares production and trade.

By the way: »Hallmarks« are called casually only the marks, which are applied, or struck by an official Assay Office system. All the others aren’t »Hallmarks«!

The maker’s mark, or modern called »sponsors mark«, has to be struck by the maker! Or, as in this case too, by the wholesaler, or retailer. Maybe the fineness marks are struck also by the maker — as it is usual in many countries of the Globe; e.g. America, Germany...

Kind regards silverport