A self-inking hand-held stamp includes a sub-assembly having an ink cartridge supplied in a pre-inked condition, and a separate sub-assembly for retailers at the point of sale or other field personnel to flash with the desired stamp image. Use of a pre-inked and pre-assembled ink cartridge permits that sub-assembly to be stocked in a field location well in advance of when the actual stamp is flashed and assembled at the point of sale.