Green Shield Stamps

[poliphilo]

Sorting through the detritus of the ages with which this house is full, Ailz found a couple of books of Green Shield Stamps. For those who don't remember them they were "a sales promotion or trading loyalty scheme" which started up in the 1950s. You bought goods from certain stores and they gave you stamps with your receipt. You stuck them in books and eventually traded them in for consumer durables like- I don't know- electric egg whisks. The Company that ran the scheme went out of business in 1991.

I checked on e-Bay to see if they had any value as collectables and they don't. Plenty of hopefuls are offering them for sale them but nobody is buying. And why would they?

Comments

[kishenehn.livejournal.com]

My Mom was obsessive about collecting Green Stamps ... I remember licking stamps and putting them in the books for her, and looking through the catalogue of premiums the company sent out. It was a gimmick, but still kind of fun.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes. I wonder someone doesn't revive them. I know stores have loyalty cards and suchlike - but stamps were tangible things; you could watch your stash growing.