FINANCIAL services provider Co-operative Insurance Society has unearthed a piece of history that shows that home insurance has risen relatively little in price over the last 100 years.

A bookmark, issued as part of a marketing campaign in 1931, has been returned to CIS, showing the 1931 premium for cover against fire, burglary, storm, flood, boiler explosions, burst water tanks and pipes and even accidents to servants.

The cost of a CIS comprehensive policy that year was five shillings (25 pence) per £100 worth of household goods with a minimum premium of five shillings.

In 2003 the average contents sum insured at CIS is currently £30,000 and the average contents premium £108. This equates to a cost of 36 pence per £100 of cover a rise of 11 pence in 72 years.

This is despite the fact that home insurance policies now provide many extra benefits and have to protect the homeowner against the loss of very high value goods, such as TVs, video recorders, computers and cameras.

This has inflated the sum insured far beyond the days when property covered would be mainly furniture, jewellery, tea sets, clocks and radios.

Russ Brady, CIS's head of corporate affairs, said: "Even though the home insurance market has changed significantly, CIS continues to provide value for money products that are backed with high levels of service at premiums people can afford."