Brand/Brand new

Brand new' has acquired almost universal usage, where 'brand' is an intensifier for the word 'new'. But If something is new, then what has been added by calling it brand new? What is newer than new? Brand new meaning perfectly new is first cited from 1570 in the sense of ‘fire new’ or ‘straight-from-the-fire new’. Originally, this described new pottery or new metalwork as it emerged from the furnace or forge. 'Brand' is the Old Norse word for fire and, from at least 2000 years ago, branding irons have been used to mark ownership of livestock. Roman tilers used to put their individual brand or burn marks on their tiles. Potters, silversmiths, etc. all used similar techniques for ‘branding’ their wares. Brand in the sense of a commercial trademark made its first appearance in the early 19th century c.1830.