American silver tray identification

American Silver Reading American Silver Hallmarks
1

Hello! I am in need of identifying whether a heavy silver tray I own is sterling or plate. I have attached a picture of the front, but my camera will not allow me to focus on the maker’s mark on the back. The mark says:
_ _ _ & S (in Old English lettering, but illegible)
I (in a box) S (in a box)
INTERNATIONAL SILVER CO
1022/9

Nowhere does the word “sterling” appear.

Any help you can give me would be deeply appreciated,
Ann Huddleston

2

If it doesn’t say “sterling” then it is most probably electroplate. The [I] [S] stands for International Silver of course. I suspect that the real clue is going to be exactly what the “_ _ _ & S” says. If your camera will not focus try taking a picture through a magnifying lens.