letter scale G. Hund, France
This little hand-held letter scale comes from France. It has the French word PESE-LETTRES, in English: letter scale. It was made by G. Hund and probably on the occasion of the Exposition Universelle held in 1867 in Paris. The unit of measure is GRAMMES. Different versions exist. This specimen weighs up to 50 grams. The scale value of 7½ grams is a bit odd because this postal rate limit has been changed within France into 10 grams already by January 1, 1862. This letter scale is therefore likely to have been invented before 1862. On other specimens also the value 22½ grams is indicated separately. Only in the postal traffic between France and Britain (since 1833 until 1875) and between France and Prussia (since 1837 until 1875) the postal weight limits were divided per 7½ grams, so also the 22½ grams weight limit existed. Versions exist without and with the 7½ and also specimens with both 7½ and the 22½ grams indications. There is also a version which weighs up to a maximum of just 30 grams. The smallest version of up to 30 grams that I saw was missing the name G. Hund. There are specimens with a simple straight pointer and with an arrow-shaped end of the pointer. On one G. Hund letter scale the poise of the pointer showed the text BREVETE and the abbreviation S.G.D.G. (= Sans Garantie Du Gouvernement).
I have an Italian version with an advert on the back, see this Bosca letter scale. Of the Exposition Universelle 1867 letter scale, exists also a Spanish-language version, with the texts Grammos and PESA CARTAS. Besides the black versions with white numbers and letters there are also brass versions.
Below some more pictures of this letter scale.
back of the scale
