Old silver item

[Duke]

What is this it says from top to bottom LETTER POST 4 OZ..1D
Each add
2 oz 1/2 d
PARCEL POST 1 “backwards j” B 3D
2,, 4D
Each add
1D up
11 something
Book post
Oz or part 1/2D
foreign post
1/2oz 2 1/2D
Books
2oz 1/2 D

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Diving for Pleasure and Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[ARC]

Oh... read... ah yes.

:P

Too early to read all that... need more coffee first

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Treasure of Victoria Peak - Grab it through Amazon!

[ARC]

"Year: 1898
Silversmith: Levi and Salaman
Place: Birmingham
Price: R 6 500.00
Weight: 161 grams
Dimensions: 8.0 cm height
Condition: Very good, in full working order. Dent to corner of base, which does not detract. Stands firmly.

Description: A rare Victorian silver postal scale, in full working order. The scale is intended for measuring postal items, so that the correct postage could be applied. This scale would have been used in a wealthy household, not a Post Office. The front is engraved "Postal Scale" on top, on the side "Postal Union Rates 2 1/2 d for each 1/2 ounce." To the left is engraved "English Rates" above measuring scale from 1d - 4d in 1/2 increments. To the right are 2 measures, 1 marked "LB" for pounds (scale 0 to 1 LB), to the right "OZ" for ounces measuring from 1-16. The engraving is exquisite, this is a lovely item. The base is rectangular with a Chippendale rim. The scale also has a knob (for adjusting scale) behind the pan, and a silver screw for opening the scale. The side of the scale is fully hallmarked, a registration number RD 308820, is also present. The top pan is also hallmarked, these are worn from polishing. Levi & Salaman were established in 1870, they were known for their high quality silver novelties. "

 

[ARC]

Just thought I would share that one.

 

[Red-Coat]

Just thought I would share that one.

Quality item.

Nothing wrong with that hallmark. The anchor is the city assay mark for Birmingham which, in conjunction with the lion passant, tells you it's solid sterling silver. The date letter is also consistent as a gothic lower case 'y' in a square shield with clipped corners, so (for Birmingham) that's 1898

Note again how specific the format is for these marks and that the date letter is also specific to the assaying city authority. The date letter 'Y' for example was not used at all by the London assay office until 1998.

 

[Deftone]

Here's one similar to the one Bramblefinds post. But with a letter opener. https://www.chairish.com/product/2105452/antique-sterling-silver-letter-opener-pen-knife

 

[How Lucky]

The three holes suggest jackknife or in this case, as Red-Coat said, a pocket letter opener.

 

[Duke]

Did anyone notice the picture that has H.M so what near the other three hallmarks it did I forget to post that pic I’m sure I mentioned it. That must be the maker and the fourth element

 

[Duke]

Somewhat near*

 

[Red-Coat]

Did anyone notice the picture that has H.M somewhat near the other three hallmarks it did I forget to post that pic I’m sure I mentioned it. That must be the maker and the fourth element

Sorry, but no. I don't know what the 'H.M.' stands for but... just to try and explain one more time. This is a Brookes & Crookes (of Sheffield) hallmark. As I said they are reported to have made at least some solid silver items, but were not renowned for it. In addition to those marks, there would also be a date letter (not shown here) and it's usually the last symbol in the sequence.



Note that it has a crown (the city assay mark for Sheffield) and the lion 'passant guardant' (the purity indication for silver) together with the maker's mark. They don't have to be in that order. Together with the date letter these are the four marks you should expect to see on silver... and the maker's mark may require more than one 'icon'.

The city assay mark and the purity mark are what are known as 'compulsory marks'. That is, they must both be present on silver items. Your piece has no city mark (the crown) for Sheffield.

If it was assayed in another town/city then it would carry the mark for that town/city. In the time period for which we know this piece was made (because the postal rates can be reliably dated) we can determine what the marks should have been for any of the towns/cities which might have assayed it. Your piece does not carry any of these marks.

There are in fact only a limited number of possibilities since we only had a limited number of assaying town/cities. You can view them all here:

https://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/index.htm

Unless you have an exact match for one of those town/city marks (including the shape of the shield on which it is placed) and which also fits the time period for the piece then it's not a hallmark and the piece is not silver. It's a pseudo-hallmark for silver plate.

As I have already said, the use of the crown mark was prohibited by law on silver plate from 1896 onwards and could only be used on solid silver. That, for sure will be reason it's missing from this piece. It's still an attempt to 'pass off' the piece as silver to anyone without the knowledge to know the difference, but not an illegal mark as such. Just sharp practice (and dozens of silver plate manufacturers did the same until further legislation and codes of practice put a stop to it).

 

[Red-Coat]

For those who don't trust hotlinks, these are the only valid town/city marks applied to silver on this side of the pond: