Stamps whose franking power is circumscribed, within a town, or district, or limited to a particular route. Where issued by direct Government authority, they are listed in the regular stamp catalogues. The great majority of “local” stamps are, however, of two main divisions: (a) sanctioned or permitted by authority, but issued under local or private concerns, and intended to supplement the regular postal service; and (b) by private persons or companies conducting posts of their own, independent of, although often supplementing the Government post.