I’m compiling a database of all known Courtois cornets made before World war one, with serial numbers, medal dates and other data. Please email me with data from your Courtois cornets. robb@robbstewart.com
Antoine Courtois Bell Markings, 1844 to 1910
Following this text is a chronological listing of various markings stamped on Antoine Courtois bells to about 1910. This information is from the study of over 200 cornet bells but should apply to all other Courtois instruments in the given spans of years. More will be found in the future to be added. There is a different pattern and perhaps less standardization in the text on those which were hand engraved (Riche version, example in above right photo), although the sample size is very small. Some of those are listed after the main list of bell stamps below. The more common examples are stamped with a succession of awards and business changes through the years. Shortly after the 1855 Paris Exposition Universelle, a stamp was included at the top or just under the artist/model name. This is a half inch circle and text within: “MÉDAILLE / DE / 1ER CLASSE / EXPOSITION / UNIVERSELLE / 1855”, although this does not appear on some bells for unknown reasons and none of those with Demi-Riche decoration or those with Riche engraving. A new circle stamp started appearing after 1904 although the the original one showed up again in later years.
Click on images for larger views.
From 1849 to 1851, John Pask in partnership with Hermann Koenig was importing Besson and Courtois cornets for sale in London. Above Courtois’ name, they engraved: “PROVED / By / Herr Koenig / J. PASK / 8 Lowther Arcade / Strand London”
After the 1851 London Exhibition, those sold by Jullien & Co. in London were at first engraved, then stamped “APPROVED (or ‘PROVED’) BY / HERR KOENIG” above Courtois’ name. In about 1854, Courtois introduced his new model with the bell mounted on the left side of the valves (later called Modéle Anglaise or English Model) and a unique redesign of the valve porting. Those sold in Paris were marked “NOUVEAU MODÉLE / DE” and those sold in London were stamped “APPROVED BY / HERR : KOENIG / NEW MODEL / OF” and then “APPROVED BY / HERMANN KOENIG / NEW MODEL / OF”. Shortly after Hermann Koenig’s death in 1857, those sold in London were stamped “KOENIG’S MODEL” and in the early 1870s “KOENIG MODEL”. In about 1864, “LEVY’S MODEL” was introduced, then in about 1877, “ARBUCKLE MODEL” and in 1881 “EMERSON MODEL”. Arban models were only marked as such in unusual cases like those with a compensating mechanism.
Below Courtois’ signature and exhibition dates on instruments for export were stamped or engraved with the dealers’ name. Those sold in London after 1851 were marked “JULLIEN & Co. / Sole agents / 214 Regent St. London”, then in late 1859 and 1860: “A. CHAPPELL & HAMMOND / LATE JULLIEN & Co. / Sole agents / 214 Regent St. London”. In 1861, this changed to “S. ARTHUR CHAPPELL / LATE JULLIEN & Co. / Sole agent / 214 Regent St. / London”. That address changed to 45 New Bond Street in about 1865 and then 52 New Bond Street about a year later and about the same time dropped “LATE JULLIEN & Co.” from the stamp. When S. Arthur Chappell retired in 1901, his business was taken over by his brother, Chappell & Co., by then a limited company, at their address 50 New Bond St. Chappell started engraving a second serial number near the bell rim in 1861, seen on the first photo below, although appears on less than half of those examined. This practice ended by 1878.
Sometime before 1858, Antoine Courtois contracted with the music publisher A. Büttner to sell instruments in St. Petersburg, although none are known with bell markings indicating this.
Those sold in countries other than France and Britain still included Chappell’s stamp, but sometimes with the addition of the local dealer’s name, such as Edward Hopkins, New York or Henry Prince, Montreal and then J. Howard Foote, New York and Chicago. After 1879, Courtois cornets for the US market were stamped “J. HOWARD FOOTE / Sole U.S agent / New York and Chicago” and sent directly from Paris. In 1880, the company changed ownership changed to include the long time foreman Auguste Mille as partner and the company name stamped on the bells “ANTOINE COURTOIS & MILLE”. After Antoine Courtois’ death on December 16, 1881, “MILLE S’R. (successeur)” was added.
Starting in about 1890, those sold on the west coast were stamped “SHERMAN CLAY & Co. / Sole U.S agent / San Francisco”. In the 1890s others are known with dealers’ names, hand engraved, including J.W. Pepper and M.J. Kalashan, although the business connections are not known. Foote died in 1896, but his company continued to import Courtois instruments for several more years. William R. Gratz took over sole import rights for the US in 1902, although his name doesn’t appear on any known instruments. H. & A. Selmeer, New York, takes over importation a few years later and stamped their name on the bells. There are other dealers claiming sole importation during the early 20th century, when sales of Courtois instruments was not as lucrative as it had been in the previous century.
The list below is the progression of Courtois signature markings, including exhibitions, awards and dates, but excluding model/artist designations and dealers’ markings that are described above. As mentioned above, the circular 1855 exposition stamp was most often included, but not always. Some of the variations were concurrent and it is very likely that there are additional variations not included that can be added when discovered. For a few of these, there is only one known example. The dating of the earlier stamps comes from “La Dynastie Enfin Retrouvée!” by Maxime and Christian Chagot, LARIGOT No. 54, December 2014.
transcriptions of bell markings
Before 1844:
“COURTOIS FRERE
FOURISSEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE
RUE DU CAIRE A PARIS”
1844 to 1851:
“ANTOINE COURTOIS
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE
RUE DU CAIRE A PARIS”
1851 to 1853:
“ANTOINE COURTOIS
BREVETÉ
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE
RUE DU CAIRE 21 PARIS”
1851 to 1853:
“ANTOINE COURTOIS
BREVETÉ
S.G.D.G.
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE
RUE DU CAIRE 21 PARIS”
1853 to 1855:
“ANTOINE COURTOIS
BREVETÉ
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE IMPERIAL
RUE DU CAIRE 21 PARIS”
1855 to 1856:
(1855 exposition circle stamp)
“ANTOINE COURTOIS
BREVETÉ
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE IMPERIAL
RUE DU CAIRE 21 PARIS”
1856 to 1862:
(with or without the 1855 exposition circle stamp)
“ANTOINE COURTOIS
Breveté
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE IMPERIAL
88, Rue des Marais St. Martin
CI-DEVANT RUE DU CAIRE
Paris”
1862 to 1867:
(1855 exposition circle stamp)
“Médaille
LONDRES 1862
Exposition Universelle
ANTOINE COURTOIS
Breveté
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE IMPERIAL
88, Rue des Marais St. Martin
Paris”
1867:
(1855 exposition circle stamp)
“Médaille
LONDRES 1862
PARIS 1867
Exposition Universelle
ANTOINE COURTOIS
Breveté
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE IMPERIAL
88, Rue des Marais St. Martin
Paris
1867 to 1870:
(1855 exposition circle stamp)
“Médaille
LONDRES 1862
Exposition Universelle
ANTOINE COURTOIS
Breveté
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE IMPERIAL
88, Rue des Marais St. Martin
Paris
Médaille d’Honneur
EN ARGENT
Exposition Universelle
PARIS 1867”
1870 to 1872:
(1855 exposition circle stamp)
“Médaille
LONDRES 1862
Exposition Universelle
PARIS 1867
Médaille d’Honneur
EN ARGENT
ANTOINE COURTOIS
Breveté
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE IMPERIAL
88, Rue des Marais St. Martin
Paris”
Early 1872:
(1855 exposition circle stamp)
“Médaille
LONDRES 1862
Exposition Universelle
PARIS 1867
Médaille d’Honneur
EN ARGENT
ANTOINE COURTOIS
Breveté
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE
88, Rue des Marais St. Martin
Paris”
1872 to 1878:
(with or without 1855 exposition circle stamp)
“Médaille
LONDRES 1862
Exposition Universelle
PARIS 1867
Médaille d’Honneur
EN ARGENT
ANTOINE COURTOIS
Breveté
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE NATIONAL
88, Rue des Marais St. Martin
Paris
1ER PRIX
GRANDE MÉDAILLE D’OR
EXPOSITION DE MOSCOU
1872”
1878 to about 1879:
(with or without 1855 exposition circle stamp)
“Médaille
LONDRES 1862
Exposition Universelle
PARIS 1867
Médaille d’Honneur
EN ARGENT
ANTOINE COURTOIS
Breveté
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE NATIONAL
88, Rue des Marais St. Martin
Paris
1ER PRIX
GRANDE MÉDAILLE D’OR
EXPOSITION DE MOSCOU
1872
& MÉDAILLE D’OR PARIS
1878”
1879 to about 1880:
(with or without 1855 exposition circle stamp)
“Médaille
LONDRES 1862
Exposition Universelle
PARIS 1867
Médaille d’Honneur
EN ARGENT
ANTOINE COURTOIS
Breveté
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE NATIONAL
88, Rue des Marais St. Martin
Paris
1ER PRIX
GRANDE MÉDAILLE D’OR
EXPOSITION DE MOSCOU
1872
& PARIS 1878”
1880:
(with or without 1855 exposition circle stamp)
“Médaille
LONDRES 1862
Exposition Universelle
PARIS 1867
Médaille d’Honneur
EN ARGENT
ANTOINE COURTOIS & MILLE
Breveté
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE IMPERIAL
88, Rue des Marais St. Martin
Paris
1ER PRIX
GRANDE MÉDAILLE D’OR
EXPOSITION DE MOSCOU 1872
& MÉDAILLE D’OR PARIS 1878”
About 1881 to 1889:
(with or without 1855 exposition circle stamp)
“Médaille
LONDRES 1862
Exposition Universelle
PARIS 1867
Médaille d’Honneur
EN ARGENT
ANTOINE COURTOIS & MILLE
MILLE SR.
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE IMPERIAL
88, Rue des Marais St. Martin
Paris
1ER PRIX
GRANDE MÉDAILLE D’OR
EXPOSITION DE MOSCOU 1872
& MÉDAILLE D’OR PARIS 1878”
1889 to 1900:
(with or without 1855 exposition circle stamp)
“Médaille
LONDRES 1862
Exposition Universelle
PARIS 1867
Médaille d’Honneur
EN ARGENT
ANTOINE COURTOIS & MILLE
MILLE SR
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE NATIONAL
88, Rue des Marais St. Martin
Paris
1ER PRIX
GRANDE MÉDAILLE D’OR
EXPOSITION DE MOSCOU 1872
& MÉDAILLE D’OR PARIS 1878 &1889”
1900 to 1904:
(1855 exposition circle stamp)
“Médaille
LONDRES 1862
Exposition Universelle
PARIS 1867
Médaille d’Honneur
EN ARGENT
ANTOINE COURTOIS
Breveté
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE NATIONAL
88, Rue des Marais St. Martin
Paris
1ER PRIX
GRANDE MÉDAILLE D’OR
EXPOSITION DE MOSCOU 1872
& MÉDAILLE D’OR PARIS 1878 1889 & 1900”
1904 to 1911:
New circle stamp:
(“HORS
CONCOURS
CHICAGO 1893
ST LOUIS
1904”)
MÉDAILLE D’OR PARIS
1878 1889 &1900
ANTOINE COURTOIS
Breveté
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE
NATIONAL
88, Rue des Marais”
After 1911:
(New circle stamp, same as above)
“Médaille
LONDRES 1862
Exposition Universelle
PARIS 1867
Médaille d’Honneur
EN ARGENT
ANTOINE COURTOIS
Breveté
FACTEUR DU CONSERVATOIRE
NATIONAL
88, Rue des Marais
Paris
1ER PRIX
GRANDE MÉDAILLE D’OR
EXPOSITION DE MOSCOU 1872
& MÉDAILLE D’OR PARIS
1878 1889 &1900
GRANDS PRIX LIÉGE 1905
BRUXELLES 1910 TURIN 1911”
Riche Engraving
Below are seven examples of hand engraved text on Riche cornets with serial numbers and approximate or known dates of manufacture. It appears that when the presentation text was too long, the silver shield was not applied including the cornets given as prizes to the Conservatoire students for winning the solo competition each year. There is likely more variation of this style to be found.
#6625, 1867
(no shield)
"ANTOINE COURTOIS
BREVETÉ
Facteur du Conservatoire Impérial
88 Rue des Marais St. Martin
PARIS
Medailles 1re. classe
aux Expositions universelles Paris 1855 Londres 1862
MEDAILLE D'HONNEUR
EN ARGENT
Exposition universelle
PARIS 1867
S.A. CHAPPELL
Seul agent
45, New Bond Street
A LONDRES"
#6787, 1867-1868:
(silver shield with engraved monogram)
“ANTOINE COURTOIS
BREVETÉ
Facteur du Conservatoire Imperial
88, rue des Marais St. Martin
PARIS
Médaille de 1ER Classe
Expositions Universelles Londres 1851 Paris 1855
Londres 1862
MÉDAILLE D/HONNEUR
en Argent
PARIS 1867
S. ARTHUR CHAPPELL
Seul Agent
45 New Bond Street
À LONDRES”
#7543, presented in 1870 (no shield):
“ANTOINE COURTOIS
BREVETÉ
Facteur des Conservatoire Imperial
Rue des Marais St. Martin 88
PARIS
Médailles de 1ER classe
Exposistions Universelles Londres 1851 Paris 1855
MÉDAILLE D’HONNEUR
EN ARGENT
Exposition Universelle
PARIS 1867”
#8362, presented 1873 (no shield):
“ANTOINE COURTOIS
BREVETÉ
Facteur du Conservatoire National
88, Rue des Marais St. Martin
PARIS
Médailles de 1ER Classe
Exposition Universelle Londres 1851, Paris 1855
Londres 1862
MÉDAILLE D’HONNEUR
EN ARGENT
Exposition Universelle
PARIS 1867
1ER PRIX
GRANDE MÉDAILLE D’OR
Exposition de Moscou
1872”
#unknown, presented 1875:
(silver shield engraved with presentation)
“ANTOINE COURTOIS
Facteur du Conservatoire National
88, Rue des Marais St. Martin
PARIS
Médailles de 1ER Classe
Exposition Universelle Londres 1851, Paris 1855, Londres 1862
MÉDAILLE D’HONNEUR
en argent
Exposition Universelle
PARIS 1867
1ER PRIX / GRANDE MÉDAILLE D’OR
Exposition de Moscou
1872
S. ARTHUR CHAPPELL
sole agent
52 New Bond Street
LONDON.”
#17703, about 1893:
(silver shield without engraving)
“ANTOINE COURTOIS & MILLE
MILLE Successeur
Facteur du Conservatoire National
88 rue des Marais St. Martin
PARIS / Médailles de 1ER classe Expons Univles
Londres 1851 et 1862
Médaille d'Or Londres 1885
Médailles Expons Univles Paris 1855 ET 1867
MÉDAILLE D’OR ET DE BRONZE
Paris 1878
G'de Médailles d'Or Exp'on de Moscou 1872
1ER Recompense Exp'on de Boston 1883
DIPLÔME D'HONNEUR Expon Univle d'ANVERS 1885
1ER Récompense Médaille d'Or Paris
J. HOWARD FOOTE
SOLE U.S. AGENT
New York and Chicago"
#70 of new series, about 1905 :
(silver shield with monogram)
“ANTOINE COURTOIS
Facteur du Conservatoire National
88 rue des Marais St. Martin
PARIS
Médailles de 1ére Classe Expons Uniles
LONDRES 1851 – 1862
Médaille d'Or Londres 1885
Médailles Expons Uniles Paris 1855 et 1867
MÉDAILLE D’OR ET DE BRONZE
Paris 1878
Gde Médailles d'Or Expon de Moscou 1872
1ére Recompense Expon de Boston 1883
DIPLÔME D'HONNEUR
Expon Unile d'Anvers 1885
1ére Récompense Médaille d'Or
Expon Unile Paris 1889
Médaille d'Or. Expon Unile. Paris 1900
Hors Concours _ St Louis 1904
SHERMAN CLAY & Co
SOLE U.S. AGENTS . SAN FRANSISCO”