Antique 1845 British Registry Mark SHELL Letter Paper Clip J&E Ratcliff gilded

Description

Antique British Registry Mark 1845 Paper Clip J&E Ratcliff Patent Birmingham gilded brass
The registry mark is in a diamond as shown in the 2nd picture and the last picture and reads as follows -
I
A
C    R     2
3
I = metal
A = year 1845,
C = Januar
y, R = registered, 2 = 2nd day of January,
3 = parcel number which is a code indicating the person or company that registered the piece.
Stamped on the bottom plate -
J & E RATCLIFF
PATENTEES
BIRIMINGHAM
The clip is in good condition with quite a bit of loss of gilding.
The paper clip is pressed brass and is sturdy.
The spring is still nice and strong.  No cracks, chips or breaks.
The clip measures 5-1/2
" long x 2-1/2" wide x 1-1/2" high.  It weighs 3.5 ounces.
Found on the internet at English Registry Marks -
In Mark "A," the various letters and numbers indicate the following: the large "Rd" means "registered"; the Roman numeral in the circle at the top of the mark represents the type of material used to make a piece (see Table 1); the Roman numeral in the top inside section of the diamond represents the year the piece was registered (see Table 3); the Arabic numeral on the right-hand section represents the day of the month the piece was registered; the Arabic numeral in the section at the bottom represents the parcel number, which is a code indicating the person or company that registered the piece; and the letter in the left-hand section represents the month the piece was registered (see Table 2). In other words, Mark "A" appeared on a piece of ceramics registered on June 2, 1850.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
476.31