COVER N. 730 - USA 

Postmark: Rattlesnake Island Local Post 01.06.2026/ Port Clinton Lighthouse 125th anniversary 1896 - 2026 Port Clinton Ohio 43452 02.06.2026

Posted on the 1st June;  Received on the 12th June 2026

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The last cover I got from Ravi, from the United States, is a true gem: a fantastic envelope from a little island on lake Erie, Michigan, sent through what is the only private local mail service of the USA: Rattlesnake Island Local Post. Another huge Bohoma Sthuthi, Ravi. You're spoiling me...

Rattlesnake Island is a very exclusive place, it seems. The Island belongs to the members of the Rattlesnake Island Club which are limited in number to 65 and only them or their invitees can set foot on the island, armed security guards making sure there are no trespassers...

Anyway, besides that bit of Hollywoodesque trivia, what is really interesting to stamp lovers is the fact that the Island has had an operating  Local Post Service on several occasions, which until today is still  the only one of its kind in the United States of America, being fully recognised by USPS.

The story of RILP dates back to August 1966, when the then owner of the island started it to overcome the refusal of USPS in delivering mail to the Island.

Since then and up to 1989 the service was provided with air mail from the island being carried first in Ford tri-motors of  Island Airlines,  being rerouted, once it reached the mainland, by USPS through Port Clinton, in Ohio. From May 1979, though, when the Island was sold to a new owner, stamps were no longer used, these being only used for First Day Cover issue purposes.

The second iteration of RILP began in 2005 and ran up to 2010, again under the supervision of the founder of the service, Dr. James Frackleton. The aircraft now used were the DeHavilland Beaver and Piper Saratoga of Griffing Flying Service.

In 2022, RILP was again set in motion, now under the supervision of Post Master Dave Gill, who has been the person responsible for RIPL stamp issues ever since.

Ravi also included a very nice postcard also issued by RILP with an aerial view of the tiny island which from tip to tip measures about 1 km in length.

The green "padded" level area is the airstrip, which doubles as an 18 hole golf course, when planes are not in sight....

The stamps on the cover are the 2024 RILP stamp issue featuring aircraft used for mail services to the island, namely the above mentioned  Piper Saratoga - 50 Cent; DeHavilland Beaver - 75 Cent and Thin Lizzie (Ford Trimotor) -  1 Dollar and they are obliterated by the classic diamond shaped RILP postmark.

I think I also read that the triangular stamps result from an imposition by USPS for them not to be confused with USPS stamps, but I can't go back to where I think I read it...

The cover also carries an USA Forever Stamp, (1794 Compass Rose, issued on 24JAN2025) for the "regular"  international service to Portugal, obliterated with a lovely Postmark celebrating Port Clinton's Lighthouse 125th anniversary.

All in all a fantastic cover. Thank you so much, Ravi!