A Set of Postal Letter Scales with Brass Tray & Original Weights
SOLD
Origin: English
Period: Early/Mid Twentieth Century
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1940 (some weights date later)
Width: 11 inches
Height: 9 inches (with tray)
Postal letter scales in the reberval style, in a painted black finish with brass tray and fixtures. Fully operational, the base in cast iron with brass fittings and a rams horn detail to the tray holder. The weights could well be older and are individually stamped including the London Guildhall dagger, and all but one have the regal crown stamp. They measure at 1.07 oz, 2 oz, ½ lb and 1lb. Three of the weights are certainly part of the same nest with the other two being older and younger respectively. There are a few very small spots of rust to the scales, but in summary, a complete and functional vintage piece of postal history, or indeed kitchenalia.
The oldest letter or parcel scales date back to the British Uniform Postal Act of 1840. This was the first time a letter could be mailed based on its weight and not on the number of sheets of paper it contained.