Poster stamps, the slightly larger cousin to postage stamps, came into use about the same time during the 1860s. These color illustrated advertising pieces were a creative and affordable way for retailers who may not have otherwise been able to afford full color ads. Poster stamps are wonderfully illustrated mini works of art and are highly collectible. Today these types of stamps are often referred to as cinderella stamps, which refers to anything resembling a postage stamp that wasn't actually issued for postal purposes. 

This listing is for an 1897 cinderella stamp out of Germany. It's advertising the Horticulture Exhibition that was held in Berlin from April 28-May 9, 1897. This stamp measures approximately1 11/16" x 2 1/2" and features a woman in profile, smelling a rose. The border of the stamp is an artistic arrangement of garden vegetables. This stamp has been hinged.