Before the internet people in the underground wrote to each other and traded/ sold tapes, records, and ‘zines between countries and states.  You would send something off and have to wait awhile (days to sometimes weeks) for a reply, but it created an international community that shared, discussed, and bartered underground movies, music, and ‘zines beyond borders.  The taglines “no rip off” and “send my stamps back!” were repeated endlessly throughout the ’80s and ’90s (for those who were wondering, postage got expensive and most people participating in this were young and broke or poor, so to save money they would put a layer of soap over their stamps, which would keep the post office’s stamper from marking them, and then they could use them again.  Hence the request to send their stamps back).

One way that bands and ‘zines got the word out about their projects before the internet was little ads they made and sent through the mail.  Other people would also put these ads in their letters and packages, so when you would get something you would also get a bunch of little cut out ads informing you of various underground endeavors and where you could get them.  Here is a sampling of some that I still have: