Postal History: Advertisements On Mail

Have any Postal Services ever sold commercial advertisements to be printed on the mail they process?

Perhaps a silly question--it would be truly lamentable a practice--but I don't know where I might look to get an answer.

I consider some USPS stamp issues (such as Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Batman stamps) to be commercial advertising. The stamps contain content which can be perceived as advertising for currently available commercial movies/DVDs and other tie-in products. Just my opinion, others may disagree.
Don

It's been talked about for years (advertising on stamps) but the USPS has generally abandoned the idea. Of course, as mentioned in the earlier post, some may consider some of the pop culture stamps to be commercial advertising in nature -- and let's not forget the Hershey's Kiss stamp, either.

Since this was posted in a non-country specific thread, the link below may be of interest as it relates to Canada Post and McDonald's advertising both in their postmark and in the selvage of some of their stamps:

https://goscf.com/t/19975

Other countries have done similar ads on stamps with varying degrees of success but not to the point that we can look forward to stamps bearing advertising logos anytime soon.

51, I see your point, but at least the sender gets to choose what goes on the envelope.

wt1, thanks very much for the link!

Not exactly a stamp, but the USPS was printing Spider Man Forever Labels in their APC's a while back right about the time of one of the movie's releases. Hardly a coincidence I think. But I never researched what the tie-in was. I just tried to stick with stamps.

Hahaha. Every time I read APC, I think "Armored Personnel Carrier!"

You and me both. But I guess it's the USPS's acronym for the machine in the lobby. I like the machine because I don't have to argue with it like I do the clerks behind the counter.

The USPS has used slogan machine cancels with Kermit the Frog, Shrek, Rodney & Fender, and many others. No idea what the finances were behind any of these.

Just pointing out that APC (Automated Postal Center) is a now-defunct term. The USPS is trying to get people to embrace their new acronym SSK (Self Service Kiosk).