diff --git a/lib/doc/Customization.lyx b/lib/doc/Customization.lyx
index bace2f65ac..33b0db01e0 100644
--- a/lib/doc/Customization.lyx
+++ b/lib/doc/Customization.lyx
@@ -19388,6 +19388,37 @@ End
  The following parameters can also be used:
 \end_layout
 
+\begin_layout Description
+
+\change_inserted 1414654397 1370012684
+\begin_inset Flex Code
+status collapsed
+
+\begin_layout Plain Layout
+
+\change_inserted 1414654397 1370012589
+InitialValue
+\end_layout
+
+\end_inset
+
+ [
+\begin_inset Flex Code
+status collapsed
+
+\begin_layout Plain Layout
+
+\change_inserted 1414654397 1370012639
+number
+\end_layout
+
+\end_inset
+
+=1] Sets the initial value for the counter, to which it will be reset whenever
+ that happens.
+ Normally, one will want the default, 1.
+\end_layout
+
 \begin_layout Description
 \begin_inset Flex Code
 status collapsed
diff --git a/lib/scripts/layout2layout.py b/lib/scripts/layout2layout.py
index 98cdb94bed..ce8da57275 100644
--- a/lib/scripts/layout2layout.py
+++ b/lib/scripts/layout2layout.py
@@ -160,6 +160,9 @@ import os, re, string, sys
 # Incremented to format 47, 23 May 2013 by rgh
 # Add PackageOptions tag
 
+# Incremented to format 48, 31 May 2013 by rgh
+# Add InitialValue tag for counters
+
 # Do not forget to document format change in Customization
 # Manual (section "Declaring a new text class").
 
@@ -167,7 +170,7 @@ import os, re, string, sys
 # development/tools/updatelayouts.sh script to update all
 # layout files to the new format.
 
-currentFormat = 47
+currentFormat = 48
 
 
 def usage(prog_name):
@@ -384,7 +387,7 @@ def convert(lines):
                 i += 1
             continue
 
-        if format >= 44 and format <= 46:
+        if format >= 44 and format <= 47:
             # nothing to do.
             i += 1
             continue
diff --git a/src/Counters.cpp b/src/Counters.cpp
index e73e2d8913..917044a252 100644
--- a/src/Counters.cpp
+++ b/src/Counters.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ Counter::Counter()
 
 Counter::Counter(docstring const & mc, docstring const & ls,  
                 docstring const & lsa)
-	: master_(mc), labelstring_(ls), labelstringappendix_(lsa)
+	: initial_value_(0), master_(mc), labelstring_(ls), labelstringappendix_(lsa)
 {
 	reset();
 }
@@ -53,11 +53,13 @@ bool Counter::read(Lexer & lex)
 		CT_LABELSTRING,
 		CT_LABELSTRING_APPENDIX,
 		CT_PRETTYFORMAT,
+		CT_INITIALVALUE,
 		CT_END
 	};
 
 	LexerKeyword counterTags[] = {
 		{ "end", CT_END },
+	  { "initialvalue", CT_INITIALVALUE},
 		{ "labelstring", CT_LABELSTRING },
 		{ "labelstringappendix", CT_LABELSTRING_APPENDIX },
 		{ "prettyformat", CT_PRETTYFORMAT },
@@ -83,6 +85,18 @@ bool Counter::read(Lexer & lex)
 				if (master_ == "none")
 					master_.erase();
 				break;
+			case CT_INITIALVALUE:
+				lex.next();
+				initial_value_ = lex.getInteger();
+				// getInteger() returns -1 on error, and larger
+				// negative values do not make much sense.
+				// In the other case, we subtract one, since the
+				// counter will be incremented before its first use.
+				if (initial_value_ <= -1)
+					initial_value_ = 0;
+				else
+					initial_value_ -= 1;
+				break;
 			case CT_PRETTYFORMAT:
 				lex.next();
 				prettyformat_ = lex.getDocString();
@@ -136,7 +150,7 @@ void Counter::step()
 
 void Counter::reset()
 {
-	value_ = 0;
+	value_ = initial_value_;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/Counters.h b/src/Counters.h
index 511c4902c8..a195889e31 100644
--- a/src/Counters.h
+++ b/src/Counters.h
@@ -76,6 +76,9 @@ public:
 private:
 	///
 	int value_;
+	/// This is actually one less than the initial value, since the
+	/// counter is always stepped before being used.
+	int initial_value_;
 	/// contains master counter name.
 	/** The master counter is the counter that, if stepped
 	 *  (incremented) zeroes this counter. E.g. "subsection"'s
diff --git a/src/TextClass.cpp b/src/TextClass.cpp
index f6723ec9c2..b77f31b336 100644
--- a/src/TextClass.cpp
+++ b/src/TextClass.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ namespace lyx {
 // development/tools/updatelayouts.sh script, to update the format of
 // all of our layout files.
 //
-int const LAYOUT_FORMAT = 47; //rgh: package options
+int const LAYOUT_FORMAT = 48; //rgh: initial values for counter
 
 namespace {