Similar in appearance to postage stamps, trading stamps are small, adhesive-backed coupons. These stamps were once frequently given to consumers when they purchased merchandise from certain retailers. The trading stamps were pasted in small books that could later be redeemed for other merchandise. Retailers commonly gave out one stamp for each purchase of ten cents. The first stamps were issued in 1890 by Schuster's Department Store in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Schuster's gave the stamps to cash-paying customers to encourage them to forgo charging their purchases. The most prominent trading stamps were S&H Green Stamps, first issued by the Sperry & Hutchinson (S&H) Company in 1896. Other major trading-stamp brands included Top Value, King Korn, Triple S, Gold Bell, and Plaid.

S&H calls trading stamps "America's first frequent shopper program and grandfather of marketing programs such as frequent-flyer miles." During the prime years of trading stamps in the...