Fire-steel (length 2 3/8 ins) of simplest possible type; a thick heavy piece of steel, roughly rectangular in shape, without hand-hold; bought in 1899 in Madrid. [NB: one of fifty-seven specimens (nos. 367-423) believed to be all Spanish, some of considerable antiquity. Most of them were formerly in the Lavedan Collection. The series is remarkable for the excellent artistic design and the fineness of the steel-casting exhibited by many of the examples - these being special features of Spanish steels, which often bear names, initials, or armorial bearings, showing the pride taken in them by their owners.]