Sticker

Besides address labels, fans go in for custom stickers to promote bids, affixed to con badges.

From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959

A little gummed piece of paper, usually less than 3" long and having space for maybe four lines of type. Sometimes applied to the letter sheet in lieu of letterhead, or more usually stuck to the envelope. It may carry the fan's name, one or more of his publication's titles, names of organizations, and descriptive words like "Scientifictionist"; others say "Member Suchandsuch Organization", plug a convention, Esperanto, flying saucers or some such thing, or maybe boost science fiction in general.

From Fancyclopedia 1, ca. 1944

A little gummed piece of paper, usually less long than 3" and having space for perhaps four lines of type. Sometimes applied to the letter sheet in lieu of letterhead, it is more usually stuck on the envelope, and may carry the fan's name, one or more of his publications' titles, names of organizations and descriptive words like "Scientifictionist"; others say -"Member --- suchandsuch org"-, plug a convention or Esperanto, or maybe plug science-fiction in general.

Bob Tucker claimed to have introduced the practice to fandom. In his “Mumblings” column in Southern Star (March 1945, p. 30), Tucker wrote:

A lot of years ago, but not so many that you can’t remember, we began the sticker craze in fandom. At least, we fondly believe we started it. Letterheads were so expensive and so rare that when a fan popped up with some, the amazing fact was duly noted in the gossip columns of the then-popular fanzines. Try getting a gossip column to mention you having a letterhead today. 

There have been times since that early date when we wondered if we did the wise thing in introducing stickers — considering the use made of them now. We have seen many a Godawful sticker these last years and many Godawful things printed on them. Just lately we ran across the crowning insult to the sticker trade. Had letterheads continued to be the sole medium of self-advertising and expression we would have been spared this, but . . .

There is a chap in Live Oak, Florida who politely informs the world, via sticker that he is "Raym of the Star-Flecked Cosmos”. The first time we laid eyes on that one, we ran hurriedly to our public library, took down all the astronomy books and star plates and searched somewhat mad­ly and frenziedly for the star-flecked cosmos. We never did find it. Now that we have become more or less inured to this particular bit of stickum paper we are able to receive a letter, with one attached, with a minimum of shuddering.

Next on our list of young public enemies is a chap in Chicago named Morton Handler. His sticker is very dignified, sedate, simple. It simply states: Morton Handler — Author. Nothing very damaging in that. When we read it we began reveiwing our memory train to find the stories he had written. Searching science fiction as we did, we were unable to find a single Handler story. We even considered Amazing since it was logical that his probable sales would be there. No luck. We have now come to the conclusion that either he (a) writes for western mags, or (b) he is the guy who signs his work “Anson MacDonald”.

Third, and last under consideration is a gentleman whom we knew as Harry Schmarje in Muscatine, Iowa. We used to correspond with Harry, but alas he is no more. One day we received a letter from Muscatine bearing a sticker which told us Harry had passed on to bigger and better things. The sticker said: Harris M. Schmarje, Esq., Author --- Columnist --- Critique.

We quit.

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Publishing