Poster stamps

This artificial and still open collection includes more than 1,000 poster stamps, chiefly focusing on house furnishings and equipment, clothing, and food. Poster stamps, sometimes called cinderellas, were used for advertising purposes. They made their initial appearance in Germany around 1907, and in 1914, the North German Lloyd Steamship Co. introduced them in America. Although poster stamps were derived from posters, artists designed them for what they were, using bright colors and reflecting contemporary styles. They were affixed to envelopes, invoices, packages, and correspondence to advertise products, promote events, champion the quality of life in a particular area, announce exhibitions, publicize sporting events, and more.