By 1907, the U.S. government required the sterling mark, but sterling labeling began voluntarily as early 1860, since the rising affluent middle class wanted a guarantee that they were purchasing the real thing. To identify a piece of silver, look at the markings, if any, on the bottom of the piece. Helpful reference guides for identifying silver are Dorothy Rainwater s Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers , Seymour Wyler s The Book of Old Silver and Sir Charles J. Jackson s English Goldsmiths and Their Marks . Collecting Silver When collecting silver, take a close look at what you already have and select pieces that will compliment your collection. All types of silver are highly collectible and can be found at estate sales, flea markets, consignment shops, antiques shows, silver shops or even online.
Auctions are one of the best places to find flatware services at a reasonable price.
For more distinctive pieces, check out estate sales and consignment shops because they have the widest variety of silver collectibles. Even if you don t win the bidding, this is a wonderful way to establish a relationship with a seller who might be able to locate what you need.