The Signevirist
Newsletter Archive - 2026
Explore our collection of quarterly newsletters from the Fire Mark Circle of Americas
The Signevirist - Q2 2026
The newsletter discusses a potential Fireman’s Fund fire mark from Facebook Marketplace, deemed likely a post-1900s sign by the verification committee due to its material and missing historical ties. It also reviews a possible silver variant of the scarce B.329 Reliance Insurance mark versus the standard black-on-green-gold, questioning discoloration. Historical notes cover an 1885 clipping on an insurance policy and a postcard of porcelain company signs.
The Signevirist - Q1 2026
This issue highlights several newly discovered fire marks, including a rare real photo postcard showing an in-situ tin mark from the State Mutual Insurance Company of Oklahoma Territory (classified as US-SG-1), a new variant from the Virginia Fire & Marine Insurance Company (B.124-V-A), and subtle variants identified through careful comparison of marks from the Fire Association of Philadelphia (B.94-V-C) and the Niagara Fire Insurance Company (B.200-V-A). It also continues the "ABCs of American Fire Marks" series with a detailed historical account of the Winnesheik Insurance Company of Freeport, Illinois — a troubled mutual insurer whose misleading financial practices and onerous policy provisions led to its bankruptcy in 1871 — and features a member spotlight on retired insurance professional David Rademaker, who shares his collection of insurance signs, fire marks, and auto tags.
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