The first coupon was published in 1887 by Asa Candler. Mailed out to potential customers and published in magazines, it was for one free glass of his company’s new tonic beverage Coca-Cola.
It was also the start of the first mailing list. The Coca-Cola company offered pharmacies, drugstores, and candy stores (that was where you bought soda at the time) free Coca-Cola syrup in exchange for the names and mailing addresses of their regular customers.
Frugal Fangirl 