Stamp Collecting Promotion Via Vending Machine?

The item in the scans below looks like it may have contained U.S. mint stamps for postal use. No mention of how much postage was in the packet or what the charge was. Of interest is the offer of a stamp collecting kit for $1.00. The coupon inside the packet was for a whopping 1/2 cent. Accumulate $1.00 worth of coupons, mail them to the company in Albertson, Long Island, and receive a stamp cataloged at $1.00.

I have never seen these packets in 50 years of collecting. Is anyone else familiar with it? What was its time period? 1930s, 40s, 50s, 60s? Limited to the large metro areas?

Thanks.

Don

I can't say I have seen a vending stamp ad like that, but I do remember back in the 80's a stamp vending machine selling collectable stamps at a gas station in St. Charles Illinois. I think it was a quarter for three old mint 3 cents stamps. Even then I knew it wasn't a good deal, but it was so fun I had to get a couple more just to see what I would get. I remember there was some advertising, but I can't remember exactly what.

It isn't clear from the packet if Stamp O Mat was vending stamps for postage or for collectors. If the latter, it would be interesting to know what was offered and for how much. Anyone know anything about the Stamp-O-Mat company? I couldn't find any information on the Internet about it.

Don

This is probably the same company but in a different location (Teaneck, NJ). It is quite possible the same company moved from one location to another:



Ebay listings also show some of these packets of stamps as follows, including the comment that they date back to the 1960s, which figures to be about right. Whether or not they were actually sold in a vending machine is unclear. Looks to be quite similar to many other stamp packet companies selling their wares back in the day:

Thanks, wt1. Yes, looks like the same company, different address, and different marketing medium. The packets with the contents visible probably offered more stamps at a higher price.

Don

I just found one of these packets in a donation to our club. While I can't shed any light on what, when & where these Stamp-O-Mat vending were located, the one I found had 5 used and very basic worldwide definitives in them! Something I wouldn't even pay a nickel for (in fact, those items that I have in stamp give-away boxes now). Hopefully these didn't cost more than a nickel, but my guess is that were probably 25¢...

that would be great

What would be great?

This is the Zoltar vending company, obviously