Topic: 1848 Baccarat date cane with no B

[Krecik]

Do these canes typically have the B or is it common not to have the B?

[mildawg]

I've seen both, but seems to me I've seen more with the B than without.

[Krecik]

Thanks. That is also the impression I get from looking at a lot of pictures?I also wonder why they used several different colors in the same cane?

[tropdevin]

Hi.  The Baccarat date canes for 1846, 1847 and 1848 usually have the B - examples without are rare.  The cane for 1849 is usually on its own, but a few examples with the B exist. There are also a few examples where the 'B' cane is separate from the date, enclosed in a complex cane.  I think the colours within the date vary because they pulled quite a few individual number canes, then combined them as and when needed to make the full date/signature cane.  As for why they did not ensure they were all the same colour...who knows!

Alan