French assay office marks

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bijoux.expert
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Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2022 10:37 am
Location: Paris, France

French assay office marks

Post by bijoux.expert »

I'm doing research for volume 2 of my book on French jewellery and silverware. I've found that every single book on French hallmarks is full of errors, they all just basically copied off each other and added their own errors. I've had to spend a lot of time at the French archives, and I still don't have all the information I need.
Is there anyone out there who has a decent and verified list of the assay office marks in French hallmarks for 1798 to 1819, at least for the offices from 1 to 40 (departments AIN to JURA) ? Verified as in verified correctly, not just copied from another book, which I probably have.
Alternatively, does anyone have any silverware from this period, 1798-1819 where there is a clear assay office number and a maker who has been 100% identified to a particular town? If I can get enough of these sure and verified numbers, I can fix up the listings I have.
I already did this to correct the list of assay office marks for 1819 to 1838 : the existing lists had been shifted by several numbers and I realised that by moving the list by two towns, everything fell into place. Everyone had just been using and copying these lists without checking.
Thanks !
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