Unusual GB Advertising Pseudo-Stamp

I received an unusual item in the post today. An imitation adhesive stamp, the same size as most UK commemorative issues but without any inscription, is 'postmarked' NOVEMBER PAID and POSTAGE PAID ROYAL MAIL POSTAGE PAID around a large 2 and PHQ 1297

The contents were advertising material (for a sofa, I think).

The stamp and mark are illustrated on http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/pics/phil/adv.jpg if you are interested.

It is indded a great honour to know one of the "priviledged few". (deeply bowing)

We see the similar sort of thing on mail here in the US from advertisers. So long as there is a postal permit and the postage is paid I doubt the post office doesn't care what they put on the envelope short of an actual stamp design.

Research here in the U.K. discovered that junk mail is less likely to be thrown in the garbage unread if the item bore a 'real' stamp.
I have seen two or three of these false stamps used together with Royal Mail bulk posting permits - a number were from a large furniture retailer.
They got my attention - I kept the 'stamps' in my Cinderella book. The contents still went in the garbage.

Sorry about that. I forgot to upload the picture.

It now works, but try:
http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/pics/phil/adv2.jpg

which is a smaller file.