Since the 1890s postmasters have found more innovative ways to improve upon the old stamp dispenser. Before the stamp dispenser, stamps were printed on sheets of large stamp paper and then separated into smaller panes before being shipped to the post office. A stamp sheet usually consisted of 50 stamps but could be broken down into smaller sheetlets or corner blocks. Perforations were introduced to stamp sheets to avoid inadvertently tearing other stamps on the sheet.
Stamp coils were later introduced in the 20th century as a strip of single stamps that rolled up into a type of wheel shape. Next, people began to see a stamp dispenser sitting close to mailboxes along the street that held a stamp coil. Stamps were identified as coming from a coil as they only had two serrated edges since they were issued in long strips rather than four perforated sides from a stamp sheet.
Many consumers began purchasing a miniature stamp dispenser they could store on their desk top or drawer that would hold a small stamp coil. These were a very convenient way of storing stamps as it prevented tearing and loss. The main downfall about this type of stamp dispenser was that they were usually too bulky to carry around in your wallet so if you needed a stamp while you were away from home, you’d have to stop and buy one or go home to get one.
Using a stamp dispenser is usually pretty easy to do. Some models even affix the stamp for you. First, open the lid of the stamp dispenser. Sometimes there are latches that you will have to lift before you can open the lid of the stamp dispenser. You’ll want to remove the first few stamps of the roll so that you have the blank strip at the beginning of the roll. Insert the stamp coil into the stamp dispenser and stretch the strip out so that the blank strip pulls through to the outside of the dispenser. Stop when the first stamp becomes level with the front of the stamp dispenser. Close the lid and any latches that are open. Now, to affix stamps, you simply press the front of the stamp dispenser down onto the envelope and slide it back until the stamp is affixed. You could also use a stamp dispenser such as this to store stickers and address labels.
The postal service thought of a new stamp dispenser in the form of a small booklet. They bind several stamp panes together into a booklet that carried 10 to 20 stamps and was protected by colorful cardboard covers. The stamp panes were stitched onto the cover and advertising pages were inserted into the interleaves. The colorful cardboard cover also served as advertising. Modern editions of the booklet stamp dispenser are glued together rather than stitched or stapled. These booklets are much more convenient than the stamp coils as they can easily fit into a wallet without taking up much space for when you need that stamp on the go.