Pay one's stamp?

[bartholomew]

What does this expression mean

[flaming]

Yes,  I agree with Andy Hughes, but at the time I went to work in bigger firms during the 50s and 60s I didn't actually see the cards when I left a job - they were sent on somewhere by whoever did the payroll.  I had a P45 tax form only.  People still referred to "getting your cards" when either leaving voluntarily or getting the sack, even though the cards were never seen.  In the 70s I was self-employed and actually had to buy my own stamp each week from the Post Office, and stick the stamps on until the card I had obtained was full up, then send it off.  The self-employed stamp was of less value as the combined employer/employee one, but did not count towards one's State Pension.