Whether you are a novice collector, dealer or enthusiast, this book has been designed to provide you with a practical source of reference, wherever your collecting takes you. It will help you to tell when, where, by whom, and with what quality of metal most silver items are made. It will enable you to identify a piece of silver, tell whether it is English, American or Continental and, if you have ever wondered what 'sterling' silver actually means, or what a crowned harp or the figure of Britannia signify, the answers are in this book. A full introduction explains how to read and understand hallmarks, how to distinguish between silver, plate, and electroplate, how to spot fakes, plus tips on buying and caring for silver.

John Bly, fourth generation in his family antiques business, is well known for his regular appearances on the BBC TV programme Antiques Roadshow over the past twenty-five years, and for his own ITV programme Heirloom. He is the author and editor of many books including Miller's Is It Genuine? and John Bly's Antiques Masterclass. John Bly is Past-Chairman of the British Antique Dealers' Association, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.