In a breath-taking display at the "Royal" a few weeks ago, Malcolm Ray-Smith showed a few English examples of "Rexmarks", early manuscript town marks: these seem to be rarer than Scottish ones! Mostly, they will have been used before 1720. I am now trying to compile a list of towns in England which used manuscript town markings. So far I have seen examples from:
Doncaster
Falmouth
Ferrybridge (Fferibridge)
Halifax
Penrhyn
Prescott
Thorne
Wigan
York
As a result of a single archive in Hamburg, Doncaster, Ferrybridge and York are common.
I have no doubt there are several more: I am also sure they are not common. I am begging for information: IF you are so fortunate as to have any English manuscript town marks in your collection, please tell me; I will add them to my list. When I have 18 towns, or 30 examples (other than Doncaster, Ferrybridge and York) to report, I will offer it for publication (inter alia) in the GBPS's esteemed magazine.
If you have any to tell me about, ideally I would like scans; to know the exact wording of the mark, if there is a rate attached to the mark, the date and the destination. A scan would be a welcome bonus! Please e-mail me: PVChadwick@gmail.com
Peter Chadwick