A Couple Of Odd Items - Anyone ID ??

I have a couple of items headed out in the mail today to the Australian "Rodster", but I sure would like to know what they are. The last one I think is an S&H type of "green stamp", but certainly NOT green. Anyone know and thanks as always! - Jeff

I have no idea about the orange stamp, but can offer the following information about the others:

The S&H Stamp is Sperry & Hutchinson, Limited, so it is the UK version of the trading stamp. Here's an image of the book and address where they were once located (circa 1960s):



The National Letter Return Association was an interesting private organization that apparently "sold stamps for the purpose of having certain mail matter forwarded to it upon arrival, from where it would be returned to the writers." Here's a post office decision about the firm dating back to 1885. Although I'm not quite sure what the benefit was to anyone who used their stamps, as the post office decision concludes, "I see no reason why the Department should suppress this plan until it can itself afford the public a better one.":

The Orange one is from Brooke Bond Dividend Tea. The stamp was printed on the outermost wrapper and perforations were added so it could be removed and stuck on a savings card (it was the card that was gummed not the stamp). When the card was full you handed it in to your grocer who would give you a small sum of money which he/she then recouped from Brooke Bond. I remember them in the UK in the 50s and 60s.

The "Letter Return Association" afforded a bit of privacy, long before our national paranoia took hold. There was no way, as far as I know, to trace the individual associated with that number. I have several examples, but not like the OP's.

Thanks everyone. I knew SCF would have the answers and intriguing answers they were (as always). I never cease to be amazed at the depth of knowledge here at SCF. Thanks all for knowing and providing an enjoyable read. - Jeff

A very dated publication, but checkout pages 44-47 at this link for a philatelic spin on the story about the National Letter Return Association of Chicago stamps. The stamps were allegedly on sale for approximately ten years and then discontinued when it was determined the public did not want the service.

(It is interesting to note that the Chicago post office actually sold the stamps, too!)

http://books.google.com/books?id=uV...ge&q&f=false