During the 1840's Trinidad (west indian island) was the first British Colony to have issued a stamp.
Not an official stamp like, at the same period, the First Stamps of Maritius famously known as the Post office stamps (orange and blue) as the Trinidad one appeared six months before the so celebrated ''Post Office' Mauritius''.
The Lady Mcleod(Trinidad's first stamp) was privately-issued produced for use on mail carried on a paddle-steamer, named LADY MCLEOD, between Trinidad's capital, Port of-Spain and San Fernando.
The stamp portrays the paddle steamer sailing above the initials LMcL. It was the first pictorial stamp.
The steamer was named after the Governor's wife and came into service in Nov 1845.
The stamp was available only for subscribers initially at 1 dollar/monthly and payable quarterly.Non subscribers were charged 10 cents each.
The letters carried on the steamer were not date-stamped. The stamps were cancelled with pen strokes or just by having a corner skimmed off. The Lady McLeod remains one of the world's most famous and desirable stamp!