Local Stamp

A local stamp — or simply a local — is a stamp that pays for postal service within a restricted area rather than across a whole country. Locals have been issued by city posts, private carriers, rural councils, island operators and other bodies that provided mail services alongside, or in the absence of, a national post.

Main Categories of Local

US private carriers and locals. In the mid-19th century, private companies in American cities delivered letters locally and issued their own stamps. Many were suppressed after legislation strengthened the government’s postal monopoly. These locals are extensively collected and catalogued.

Russian Zemstvo stamps. From the 1860s until 1917, rural district councils (zemstvos) in the Russian Empire ran local posts connecting villages with the imperial postal network and issued a large variety of stamps.

City posts. Several European cities operated local posts in the 19th century, some of which issued stamps.

Island and carriage locals. Small islands that lie outside the national postal network often issue labels to pay for carriage to the mainland — for example Lundy in the Bristol Channel, whose “puffin” stamps have been issued since 1929. Letters normally also carry national postage for onward delivery.

Strike and emergency posts. During postal strikes, private operators have sometimes issued stamps for temporary services.

Using Locals on Cover

A local stamp is most meaningful on cover, showing it was used for its intended service — often alongside a national stamp for the onward journey. Correct combinations of local and national postage, with appropriate cancellations, help confirm authenticity.

Caution

Local stamps attract forgeries and bogus issues, because some genuine locals are rare and poorly documented. Some modern “locals” exist mainly to sell to collectors. Specialist catalogues and societies are the best guide to what is genuine.