Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/319

 ON THE ASSAY MAKKS ON COLD AND SILVEH PLATE. 213 botli letters for the year 169G, i.e. for tlic year beginning 29th of May, IG.^b', the real letter for 1G97-8, court B, not being appointed till May 29th, 1G97. Instances, however, of the letter?^ occur for the year 1G97 on articles Avhich were probably made but not marked or sold previous to the adoption of the new standard. Pieces of very early English plate are of great rarity, and therefore seldom met with ; but it is quite possible that some articles may still exist in the possession of public bodies or private persons, which will supply the deficiency in my table ; and now that attention is particularly called to the subject, I hope such may be found, by which it may be comjileted and made correct ; for as only a few letters of some of the alphabets can be met with on pieces of plate, the remainder must be supplied from other sources, which, till sufficient proof is obtained of their correctness, can only be conjectural. Characters of the Alphahets of Assay Office Annual Letters. 1438 to 1458. — Lombardic, simple. 1458 to 1478. —Unknown. 1478 to 1498. — Lombardic, double cusped. 1498 to 1518. — Small black letter without Lion passant. 1518 to 1538. — Lombardic, cusps internal, no Lion. 1538 to 1558.— Unknown. 1558 to 1578. — Black letter small. Lion passant. 1578 to 1598. — Roman letters, capitals. 1598 to 1G18. — Lombardic, cusps external. 1G18 to 1638.— Italics, small letters. 1638 to 1658.— Court hand. 1658 to 1678.— Black letter capitals. 1678 to 1697.— Black letter, small. 1696 to 1716. — Court hand, with Britannia. 1716 to 1736. — Roman capitals. 1736 to 1756. — Roman letters, small. 1756 to l? 76.— Old English capitals or black letter. 1776 to 1796. — Roman letters small, Kings head. 1796 to 1816. — Roman capitals, King's head. 1816 to 1856.— Old English or black letter capitals.