a method and article for increasing the opening / reading rate of mail and thus adding value to advertising by mail . a coupon value is embedded within a machine readable code of an information based indicia used as postage evidence on each piece of a mailing . the amount of the coupon and type of coupon can be determined by the customer creating the mailing . the information based indicia is digitally signed prior to printing , allowing a redeeming vendor to verify the authenticity of a coupon , preventing fraud and changing of data within the information based indicia . in addition , the customer originating the mailing may obtain marketing information such as mailing date , type of products purchased , after the coupon is redeemed .