Lady McLeod Local

Volker Kleiner from Germany writes to let Round-Up readers know about his new website, www.philateria.com.

Volker says, "I try to show the classic locals of the world and if somebody could help me out with scans it would be fine. Articles from different people are also included – looking always for some new."

One of those articles is by Peter C. Ford who writes about the Lady McLeod local shown above.

According to Wikipedia, "The Lady McLeod was a paddle steamer and a private local post. The ship sailed regularly between Port of Spain and San Fernando, on Trinidad island, now in Trinidad and Tobago from the end of 1845 until 1854. The private local post ran during the same time with the use of postage stamps on its mail from April 1847."

Peter points out, "Although this issue did not emanate from an official source, the Lady McLeod (as the stamp is commonly called) has the glamour of being the first adhesive stamp issued in a British Colony, the ‘POST OFFICE’ Mauritius appearing some six months later."

For more on the Lady McLeod local, click here.