Vintage S&H Green Stamps were small, postage-like paper stamps from the Sperry & Hutchinson Company, given as loyalty rewards by supermarkets, gas stations, and other retailers from the 1930s to 1980s, collected in booklets, and redeemed for household goods like china, furniture, or linens from extensive catalogs or redemption centers, symbolizing a bygone era of consumer loyalty and rewards.

How They Worked

Issuance: Shoppers received stamps at checkout for purchases, often based on spending (e.g., one stamp per 6d spent).

Collection: Stamps were affixed into special booklets, often called "Quicksaver" books, with different stamps having point values.

Redemption: Once a book was filled, customers could redeem it for merchandise at S&H Redemption Centers or order items from huge catalogs, says Solis Depot and Antique Trader.

Cultural Significance

Peak Popularity: Reached immense popularity in the 1960s, with nearly 80% of American households collecting them; S&H issued more stamps than the U.S. Postal Service.

Retail Loyalty: Encouraged repeat business at participating stores like Sunshine Food Markets.

Nostalgia: Now collectible, they evoke a time before digital rewards, representing family effort and the excitement of earning big-ticket items like furniture through diligent saving.

The End of an Era. The program declined with changing shopping habits in the 1970s and was eventually phased out, evolving into S&H Greenpoints and finally ceasing operations for physical stamps around 2001.