Existing comment:
Advertising covers in the US were gaining popularity by the 1850s, when they were simply corner return addresses bearing a company name. Gradually, forward-thinking enterprises added illustrated advertising messages to their envelopes and cards on either back or front -- and, occasionally, on both sides. This illustrated mail became so prevalent that collectors of advertising covers tend to specialize in a particular subject, such as hotels, farm animals, or office equipment.
Today, most people's daily mail includes a high proportion of direct-mail advertising, all vying for attention. E-postage is a new aspect of marketing -- allowing artful mailers to extend their message right onto the stamp that delivers an invoice or an invitation. |