8th Jan, 2020 11:00
The John Barnett Collection of Scales
1165
Henry Hooper, a brass shelf edge postal bismar
Henry Hooper, a brass shelf edge postal bismar, with medallion form weight, the obverse with the royal coat of arms within a garter, and legend 'The Post Office Letter Weight', the reverse with crowned drapes for Rowland Hill's plan of penny postage, for 'H. Hooper, 12 Aug. 1839, registered No.1, pursuant to 2 Vic. Ch. 17', measuring ½ - 4oz, and with sprung letter clip struck 'Hooper's Spring Holder, reg 68. 2.Vic C. 17', beam 16.3cm long
Henry Hooper, publisher (working 1828-1842), took out the first ever Design Registration in 1839. He made five versions of this scale ranging in price between 1/9 and 10/6, celebrating Rowland Hill's Penny Post, and he advertised his letter weighers very widely in British newspapers around 1840. He specialised in pamphlets, newspapers and magazines, running the organisation from his home, his office at 13 Pall Mall East, and retailed at the Corner of Catherine Street with the Strand, not shying away from publishing pamphlets about contentious issues of a political nature.
The medallions were made by 'Silvester & Co., 27 Strand, Goldsmiths and Engravers of Seals and Copper Plates' (working 1804-1843).
Prior to 1839, the cost of sending a letter was charged by distance travelled and the number of sheets of paper. With the implementation of the Penny Post from 12 August 1839 onwards, the cost was determined by the weight of the letter, irrespective of the length of its journey.
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Sold for £640
Condition Report
Some surface wear commensurate with age. Overall good order
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Auction: The John Barnett Collection of Scales, 8th Jan, 2020
Viewing
4 January 2020, 10am - 1pm
6 January 2020, 9am - 5pm
7 January 2020, 9am - 5pm
8 January 2020, from 9am
PLEASE NOTE THAT NO CONDITION REPORTS WILL BE PROVIDED FROM 24 DECEMBER 2019 TO 1 JANUARY 2020 INCLUSIVE DUE TO THE CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR HOLIDAY.
Sorry, we cannot calculate a pre-sale automated shipping cost due to the items weight/size.
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