When Englishman John Wells retired from the Civil Service in 1996 at age 62 he decided to devote himself to collecting and dealing in the beautiful US duck stamps.
One day an inquiry from a customer ended up on John’s desk. His customer was looking for a set of lighthouse stamps which had been issued by the Rattlesnake Island Local Post. John had never heard about this local post and immediately made enquiries in the philatelic press.
He soon heard from a variety of sources including collectors and dealers and what he discovered became a fascination with this tiny island thousands of miles away. He decided to collect not only stamps and covers but also all kinds of background information.
The result of all this study was a book called The History & Local Post of Rattlesnake Island, Lake Erie back in 2003. The book was enthusiastically received by worldwide collectors and dealers as it provided so much background information and a handy pricing guide which had previously been unavailable.
In 2004, Wells was finally able to visit Rattlesnake Island. When he set foot on the island on August 27, it was exactly 38 years since the very first local post stamps had been released. He was accompanied by Dr. James P. Prackelton who has been involved in the local post ever since 1966. Also he had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Lillian Busch who for many years served as postmistress on the island. Quite understandably this was one of the highlights of John’s long philatelic career.
Rattlesnake Island is located in Lake Erie in the United States. It is one of many small islands in the lake. Over the years it has had a variety of owners but is currently owned by the Rattlesnake Club Inc. It offers various activities for tourists and other visitors who seek out unusual destinations. There is a guest house, a restaurant and a choice of sports activities. It ‘s a pleasant way of getting away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
The island has a small airstrip and currently Griffing Airlines carry passengers and cargo from Sandusky Airport in Sandusky, Ohio, to the island. During the first years of the local post the island was served by a different airline company based at Port Clinton, Ohio. This company used Ford Tri-Motors for their services to the islands in Lake Erie. The Ford Tri-Ford was generally referred to as the Tin Goose.
The local post was launched on August 27, 1966. Three rectangular stamps had been printed. They depicted a map of the area, a Ford Tri-Motor approaching the island and a boat and dock. There were two distinct printings of the set.
The US Post Office objected to the use of the rectangular format as they looked too much like regular US postage stamps. Thus the stamps were withdrawn on December 8, 1966. From December 9, 1966 until January 22, 1967 mail from the island did not have any local postage stamps.
Shown nearby is a cover posted on December 30, 1966 during the stampless period. The postmistress has written Fee Paid in the lower left comer. It is believed that some 200 items of mail were dispatched during this brief period. Such a cover is now valued at more than $100 making it a key item in any Rattlesnake Island collection.
To solve the problem it was decided to reissue the set in a triangular format which was quite acceptable to the Post Office. The new set was issued on January 23, 1967.
Then there was an annual set of stamps all the way until 1989 when the new owners decided to terminate the local post. It was, however, relaunched in 2005. As in the past there is an annual set of three stamps. The local post founder James P. Frackelton is still deeply involved in the local post.
Throughout its history, the local post has released its stamps either perforated or imperforate. So far there have been 186 stamps. Most are still easy to locate but there are some issues which are quite hard to find.
When I leaf through my own collection of Rattlesnake Island Local Post stamps I am impressed by the quality of the designs. They generally show scenery on the island, feature Lake Erie history or the local flora and fauna. There certainly is a lot of interest for topical collectors.
The Rattlesnake Island stamps can be ordered directly from the island. The latest 2009 set had three denominations: 25c, 50c and $1. A complete mint perforated and imperforate set would be $3.50. The stamps are released in small sheets of 20.
The local post urges customers to enclose a stamped and addressed envelope to speed up service. Be sure to allow enough space at the lower left part of the envelope for the local post stamp. It is an inexpensive way of getting an interesting item of postal history.
Orders should be sent to the Rattlesnake Island Local Post, c/o Griffing Air Service, Sandusky Airport, Sandusky, Ohio 44870-4417, USA.
John Wells went on collecting information about the island and its local post. In late 2009 he released a revised and updated edition of his book. This time it is a 205-page book in full colour. He writes extensively about the island, the Lake Erie area and the early aircraft serving the islands.
There is an excellent catalogue listing with current pricing. Also listed are the cancels and cachets used by the local post. Throughout the book there are numerous photos of the island, the aircraft and the people involved in the local post.
I guess John’s new book will further enhance interest in this local post which performs an essential service for the residents of and visitors to Rattlesnake Island (which is a very nice place despite its ominous name).
The book can be ordered from John Wells, P.O.Box 222, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire ENS 8GS, England. The worldwide postpaid price is US$ 30 which certainly is a bargain for all those who take in interest in small island communities with an accompanying local post.
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