Lorillard Fire Insurance Company

Volunteer fireman in New York City formed the Lorillard Fire Insurance Co. in 1852, choosing Cornelius V. Anderson, later Chief Engineer of the N.Y. Fire Department, as it's first president. The Lorillard Fire Insurance Company operated from 1852 until 1883

The Lorillard issued it's original oval fire mark in 1852. The mark was of brass construction and measured 8.375" X 6.0". It had a central image of lit torches crossed in the center and a beaded ornamentation around the rim. The text at the top reads “LORILLARD" and bottom "NEW YORK”.

  This is a heavy iron mark (not the lighter non ferrous one usually seen) measuring approximately 9.250"x 6.625" and is an early John Wright casting. Nice looking mark with a black painted front surface and gold lettering. It is in good condition with some paint loss and rusting from the elements, giving a nice vintage look about it.

This is a nice piece that would make a great addition to any fire mark, firefighting or insurance memorabilia collection. This is a must for any insurance employee, retiree, agent-broker, or insurance memorabilia collector.

American insurance company’s fire marks were placed on the exterior of a house and were intended to discourage malicious arson by showing that the owner would not suffer greatly if the building was destroyed. Additionally, the mark stood as a guarantee to fire brigades that the insurance company which insured the house in question would reward handsomely the brigade extinguishing a blaze on the premises.