The Founders of the Hallmark Research Institute (HRI), William Whetstone, Danusia Niklewicz, and Lindy Matula have announced the release of their first volume in a series on world hallmarks. The response to this release was overwhelming. The second printing has several revised country chapters, numerous new hallmarks, expanded charts and analytical index, and MORE!.

This book will be valid for years to come! Just one correct identificaiton and this book can pay for itself!

HRI is simultaneously working on World Hallmarks - Vol. II - Middle East, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. This extensive project is anticipated to be released in late 2011.

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World Hallmarks - Vol. I Europe 19th to 21st Centuries 2nd Edition Written in a narrative chronological format, this book covers gold, silver, platinum, and palladium hallmarks, and includes... Historical perspectives Assay Office Corroboration New Methods of Hallmark Analysis Expanded Analytical Index Newly Revised Imagery Thousands of Hallmark Graphics Dozens of Actual Hallmark Photos Numerous Informational Charts Glossary of Hallmarking Terms 40 Plus Chapters Including the Preface, 400 Pages

Designed for all persons handling precious metals including gemologists, appraisers, dealers, and collectors of modern and antique jewelry, silver hollowware, cutlery, and objets de art.  This resource is a welcome addition to any research library. For more information on this and other HRI projects, please visit the Projects page. Read feedback.

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Printed and published with pride in the United States,
World Hallmarks - Volume I - Europe, 19th to 21st Centuries,
2nd EDITION

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2nd Edition
$228 USD

 

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World Hallmarks - Volume I
- EUROPE -
19th to 21st Centuries
EDITION 2

Each copy is accompanied by a handy, quick reference bookmark!

  Feedback about the book... 

    THANK YOU, Everyone for taking the time to email with such enthusiasm!

Congrats on your new book by the way. You have done a great job And it’s a huge help on our appraisals.
JF

Le livre est superbe et très bien fait. C’est du travail de professionnels.
HL

...what a great book. I am at the beginning of my career as an appraiser and this book is a very welcome help.
Thank you very much.
EDL

Just a quick note to say congratulations on the book. ...I bought the book and have not stopped using it since! A publication of this type is long overdue and I wish you every success with it.
AS

... I love this book.   It will be a valuable reference in my library.
MJ

I think your book is great,  I am loving it, especially the historical perspective.  I have about 6 other hallmark books;  But, your's is tops.
RM

I love using your book.
MK

It is an outstanding publication.
JA

..congratulations on an absolutely knowledgeable and informative read.
DZ

Besides its obvious excellent scholarship, It is absolutely beautiful! 
MS

The book is fabulous - I have almost finished cover to cover.
MF

You guys have done a great job and it’s a huge help on our appraisals.
JF

I love your book!!!  Not only the hallmarks, but the history to explain the evolution of marking.
RK

Your book is one of the most helpful references I own. I use it a lot! Can't wait for your next tome.
JR

 

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Book Reviews

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WORLD HALLMARKS Volume I Europe, 19th to 21st Centuries by William B. Whetstone, Danusia V. Niklewicz, Lindy L. Matula This is a book that was worth waiting for.  It is an absolutely indispensable reference for anyone interested in European jewelry and hollowware. Years of extensive research went into this extremely well organized book.  Collaboration with European assay offices and government officials, including members of the  International Association of Assay Offices and the Hallmarking Convention have resulted in an absolutely concise and accurate compilation of hallmarks from over thirty countries.  There are over forty chapters and thousands of drawings and colored photographs of hallmarks.  Editor: Marbeth Schon Modern Silver Magazine

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World Hallmarks, Volume 1
DANUSIA NIKLWICZ, FGA, WILLIAM
WHETSTONE, LINDY MATULA, GG
Published by Hallmark Research Institute,

May of 2009 was an auspicious month. It was a month of spring cleaning and rearranging books on my bookshelf in anticipation of a new addition. Move over Tardy, Paulson, Bradbury and Jackson, and Wyler, Kovel, and Okie. There’s a new kid in town. And, at nearly 400 pages and hardbound, it’s here to stay.

World Hallmarks, Volume I by Whetstone, Niklewicz and Matula contains 40 chapters of solid information, purposefully extracted from dozens of sources, up to and including the horse’s mouth, which have been intelligently and artfully arranged to provide easy access to the heretofore arcane world of hallmarks. And, it’s in English! Any one with an interest in articles of precious metal can benefit from this book. From the hobbyist searching for a heart of gold to the professional providing a well researched product to their client, World Hallmarks Volume I, will help the reader understand everything from the inception and purpose of the hallmark concept, to its implementation in various western and eastern European countries, as well as the historical context and its impact on changes in hallmarking throughout the last two-plus centuries of their usage.

There is even a new invention: The 5 “S” method is a system invented by William Whetstone and developed by the authors to help analyze the components of any hallmark, to assist in identifying the country of origin and the relevant quantum of information which can be packed into a 3 millimeter pictogram. This book is practically the Rosetta stone for European Hallmarks!

The book is readable, and interesting. One quickly gets used to the lay of the land, and the organizational structure. Each country chapter begins by laying out the history of the country, its basic system for marking, the chronology of mark usage, and any special marks one might encounter. The mark illustrations have been meticulously drawn and are very clear. The descriptions of the logic which each country put into its marking system are clear and sensible, and the authors went to great lengths to vet this information with the governmental agencies in charge of each countries hallmarking system.

Now, just because I’m acknowledged among the many cheerleaders and contributors by the authors, the reader has no reason to sense a bias in my review. There are a very few minor hiccups, easily cured by reading carefully, which is what all of the erudite readers of this review would do in any case. And the book doesn’t fit into my breast pocket. Other than that, I’d have to work too hard to find a reason not to need this book in my library. There, my criticisms are fixed with an accompanying pocket guide version.

I really like that this book was published by the Hallmark Research Institute, and printed on American soil, on American paper and with American ink, by hard working Americans (well, okay, two Americans and one Canadian). So it cost a little more. It’s American! And that’s a good thing! So do a couple of extra hours of appraisal work, or sell an extra piece of jewelry, and go buy this book. You need it. We need it. America needs it. Thank you for your support. This public service announcement does not reflect the views or opinions of the book authors, who are all of European decent, which gives them the natural, genetic “Right Stuff” to tackle this subject matter.

All in all, I probably won’t be reaching for Tardy in French as my first book of choice anymore, that is, unless I see a miniscule “les miserable insect” whose legs I have to count, “Un, Deux, Trois…” No, I’ll be reaching for W.H.

Reviewed by Martin Fuller, GG
NAJA 3rd Quarter's Newsletter

 

Read what the Assay Offices are saying about the World Hallmarks book.