Historic fireman's badge collection for auction

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Sun Fire Office badge - Started in 1710, it is still around in the present day in the form of the Sun Alliance insurance company, making it the oldest insurance company in the world

Duke's is selling an impressive collection of fireman's badges in the upcoming coins, militaria and collectables sale.

The collection of badges and passes, which are over 200 years old, are made from silver, gilded silver, and gold.

They come from the collection of Arthur Holder, an important and well known collector of silver.

He began his collection over forty-five years ago, and was still collecting up to his passing in February this year, at the age of ninety-seven.

His passion for and knowledge of silver grew as his extensive and varied collection of items did, and he became inspired to learn the craft of a silversmith.

His own detailed works in silver sat beside his collection, and he would often gift his own work to friends and family.

His taste for silver items was wide-ranging, encompassing varied piece, from the common, such as card cases, to the rarer pieces, including these fireman's badges on offer at Duke's.

The common denominator was excellent quality, and detailed workmanship.





Earlier examples include a silver Westminster Fire Office pass for 'Auditor/ Mr John Crace', dating from 1788


The collection of fire badges is remarkable for its connection to a specific time in British history.

As the city of London grew, with an ever increasing population, and flourishing businesses, it suffered side-effects from this unplanned and rapid growth.

From the 8th century onwards, London suffered many great fires. The largest of these occurred in 1666 and became known as the Great Fire of London.

This came at a time where the ever-growing expansion of business in the capital started to put greater emphasis on the importance of property.

In the aftermath of the fire, some of the earliest insurance companies began to be established. The most prominent of these was the Sun Fire Office.

Started in 1710, it is still around in the present day in the form of the Sun Alliance insurance company, making it the oldest insurance company in the world.

Buildings would bear a plaque with the motif of the insurance company who covered them, with an individual number underneath. This identified the building, its owner and the policy.

Each insurer would provide protection from fires by retaining their own fire brigade. The staff would bear badges with the company's logo on their arms, to ensure that they were valid firefighters, and not thieves waiting to loot a burnt out property.

Duke's is offering 33 lots of fire badges and passes. The collection contains eight such badges from the famous Sun Fire Office, ranging from early pieces from 1765, to silver Victorian badges from the late 1800's.

The earliest is estimated at £2,000-£4,000, and features the iconic sixteen armed sun motif. Also included are passes relating to certain positions within a fire insurance company. Three are gold passes for the Directors of the Westminster Fire Office from 1819 – 1824, and another for the Director in the year 1843.

Earlier examples include a silver Westminster Fire Office pass for 'Auditor/ Mr John Crace', dating from 1788.

Specialist Timothy Medhurst said:"We are excited to be selling such a marvelous collection of firefighting history. The badges and passes are spectacular examples of the early history of property, insurance and disaster control. They are very rare items, due in part to the dangerous nature of firefighting. Collectors can wait years for a new collection to come on to the market, and competition for the best pieces can be very strong. The brilliant provenance of the Arthur Holder collection adds a shine to this sale – the pieces have been selected by a connoisseur of silver, and therefore we are offering only the best."

The collection will go under the hammer at Duke's on Thursday 13th October. For more information contact specialist Timothy Medhurst on 01305 265080.



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