POSTSCHAAL „QUICK”
Systeem Keesing
letter scale

The letter scale shown here was made for use in the Netherlands; its scale is covered with Dutch postal rates. It has a weighing capacity of 750 grams. The scale markings alternate between black and red. This letter scale likely dates from the period 1916–1925. This substantial scale, standing 48.5 centimeters tall, was sold by N.V. Internationale Uitgevers- en Handel-Maatschappij (Amsterdam) directly to businesses, as well as to resellers and office supply stores in the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies. I assume a scale calibrated for mail sent to and from the Dutch East Indies would then be fitted to the letter scale. I have not yet seen an example of this. The scale bears the inscription POSTSCHAAL "QUICK" and, beneath that, Systeem "Keesing". The scale was devised by Isaäc Keesing Jr. I have not found a patent for it. Newspaper advertisements from 1916 and 1917 claimed that the franking process would be 12.5 times faster with this letter scale because the postage value was indicated directly on the scale plate—specifically, processing 10 letters in 5 minutes versus 50 letters in 2 minutes with the "QUICK" postal scale. The scale depicted in the advertisements—see below—is the model shown here, featuring a letter tray suspended from a stem. This design causes the indicator arm to swing and oscillate back and forth for a prolonged period. Moreover, reading the scale is extremely difficult due to the large number of rate categories listed one below the other, meaning the claimed increase in speed would never actually be achieved. The earliest advertisement found appeared in the *Algemeen Dagblad* on July 27, 1916, while the last one appeared in the same newspaper on September 8, 1925. Advertisements were also placed for a scale plate displaying the new postal rates effective October 1, 1925, selling for 3.50 guilders.