First time poster
I have this ciggie box from my long-late grandparents. It will be going on ebay
“W&H…m” hallmark = Walker & Hall 1930?
No 92.5 anywhere to be found so guessing it is silver plated. Rather attractive, could do with a clean. Not found one quite like it online for price comparison. What would your ebay auction minimum be?
Comments on my detective work appreciated! Thanks, Owen
"Of the "lowercase Latin alphabet letters " the “exact date " found on the web (examples below) refers to 1920 (b), 1924 (f) and 1925 (g). Assuming they are correct, the first letter of the series (a) would correspond to 1919 (in perfect sequel to “lower case gothic” series ending with ‘z’ in 1918) and the last letter would refer to 1930 (m) or 1931 (n) (in 1932 was used the upper case D).”
It is sterling silver, not electroplated. It has a Sheffield hallmark with the date letter m for 1929. You will note that the spoons in Bartholmew’s link are 1930 with the next silver date letter, n.
Phil, that’s why I included this link, as the Walker & Hall dates are often controversial. It’s not up to me to judge, so thank you for your decisive voice.
W&H electroplate dating is certainly a bit controversial, but for silver there is no question - I didn’t want our enquirer to feel confused.
How confident are you it is sterling not plated?
Owen, before you ask a question – which is obviously rhetorical – think long and hard…
Hi Owen
Your concern arises from the absence of a .925 sterling designation. It’s not rhetoric — nor is it self-answering, it’s seems a genuine and not unreasonable enquiry.
The short answer is there is no doubt it is sterling silver, it is hallmarked — verified as such by the assay office which tests for silver content before allowing the assay marks to be arrayed.
It wasn’t until 1999 that the .925 mark appeared on domestic silver assayed in Sheffield.
In the UK, the “.925” mark used to be only used to certify sterling silver, indicating 92.5% purity, conforming to international standards for export.
So while the traditional lion passant is used domestically, the .925 number mark, often accompanied by a Common Control Mark (scales) under the 1972 International Hallmarking Convention, is used for items exported to convention signatory nation.
You have a great sarcophocus-style cigaret box with a machine engineered pattern top. You don’t say or show but it is likely the interior is gilted. If it has any rubber elastic bands in it, you might want to remove them as the rubber gives off sulphur and that stains the adjacent silver even the gilt.
CRWW
Thank you, and all the other respondents. Much obliged
U welcome, Owen! - - - - – - - – – - - – - - - - – 
