Local post

A local post is a postal service that handles mail only within a limited geographical area, typically a city or a single transportation route. Historical, some local posts have been operated by governments, while others, known as private local posts have been for-profit companies.

Official local posts

Government local posts go back to at least 1680, when the Penny Post was established in London to handle intra-city mail delivery at a uniform rate of one penny.

Later on, when postage stamps were first introduced, special stamps were often issued; for instance the cantons of Switzerland issued stamps for use within a canton, and inscribed them "Poste-Local" or "Orts-Post". The Russia province of Wenden issued stamps for a local post from 1862 to 1901, while Nicaragua issued stamps for Zelaya only, due to its use of a different currency.

Rural Russia had a great many zemstvo posts handling local mail independently of the central government; some of these lasted until the 1917 revolution.

Private local posts

Many countries have had private local posts at one time or another. Usually these operated with the acquiescence of the government, and at other time in competition. Types of local posts included intra-city systems, transcontinental delivery (such as the Pony Express), and riverboat routes.

Many of these existed for only short periods, and little is known of their operations. Some of their stamps are among the great rarities of philately.