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The first item that comes to mind is the GB Commemorative in the Soldier's Tale issue, date of issue 5th October 1999, the 19p black and pale yellow indicates Robert the Bruce (1274-1329) when as king he crept into hiding in a cave in the winter of 1306. There he hatched plans which would ultimately save the Scottish nation from extinction. After six defeats, in the Battle of Bannockburn on 23/24 June 1314, as king he led the Scottish nation to victory. Legend has it that a spider spinning its web in the cave provided the king with inspiration. However, the legendary spider never existed, but it was a brilliant metaphor for the war weary king's plight. The famed colourful account is from the imagination of Sir Walter Scott, "Tales of a Grandfather" in 1828. Unfortunately there is no hint of the legendary spider on the stamp.
The Kings Caves on Arran are the supposed location for the legend. But the islands of Rhum, Rathlin (off Co. Antrim), Eigg, the Uists, Barra and Ghigha are all considered possible alternative location for the cave.

Now we come to Cinderella issues. These are locally/privately produced stamps which are not valid for pre-payment of postal items in the national postal system. However they are increasingly being produced, principally to generate income on the pretext of pre-payment for postal items from remote islands to connect with the national Royal Mail system. These Cinderella issues are variously described as carriage labels, stamps and local carriage stamps. Not surprisingly Staffa, home to Fingal's Cave and other well-known caves (indicated on the map of the island below) has been a leader in issuing Cinderella issues. There are numerous items and those accompanying should be regarded as a selection and not definitive. There is also a degree of uncertainty in the chronological order of issue. Staffa stamps, introduced in 1968, were sold by the boatman who used to take visitors from Iona and Fionnphort out to Staffa in his motor boat. In 1969 it was stated that there was a posting box in Fingal's Cave and another one by the landing stage. All items posted in the boxes would receive a special hand stamp - see illustration. Then in 1974 the owner of the island, Alastair de Watteville, appointed a contractor to design, produce and supply new sets of stamps.

In 1976, when the launch "Laird of Staffa" came into service, a robust weather-proof letter box was installed at Clamshell Cave. Visitors could then buy post cards and Staffa stamps on board on the trip out to Staffa, post their mail in the letter box, and have it collected, franked on the return voyage, and handed in at a post office on Mull.

This arrangement worked well at first. It ended after two years when the contractor, in an excess of zeal, decided to issue Staffa stamps in each of the twelve New England States to commemorate the bicentenary of America's Independence. The earliest and by far the most attractive and professionally produced to my view is the 1/6 in the series of 4 values showing Mendelsshon's head, Fingal's Cave in the background and Queen Victoria. This is multi-coloured with a predominance of brown, black and blue. As the set is pre-decimal currency it will be pre 1972; all the suggestions are that it was issued in 1969 or earlier. Queen Victoria's visit to the island was on 19th August 1847.

Next came the 50p label as I have a copy 'franked' 1.12.1973. Perhaps the £2 label dates from the same date or era. There must be considerable doubt as to what these are meant to be used for other than to generate income from ephemera collectors. Certainly from my visit to the island on 30th May 1993, there was no opportunity to purchase or better still post such items.

The miniature sheet primitively perforated of eight views is 'franked' with the date 1.1.74. The values are 1p, 2p, 3p, 4p, 5p, 10p, 15p and 20p. The block of eight comprising 4 x 14p and 4 x 18p values multicoloured was to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Mendelssohn's visit. As his visit was 8th August 1829, this dates these as issued in 1979.

More recently the Island of Rona, sometimes known as South Rona, which lies at the north end of Raasay and to the east of Skye, has started to produce stamps. They are produced by Ardochy and Rona Estates on behalf of the Danish owner, Mrs Dorte Mette Jensen. The first issue, a set of four values, was on 1st May 2003, the 75p multicoloured value of which illustrates a view out through the entrance of Church Cave. The cave, also known as Giant's Cave, is situated on the east coast almost directly across the island from Acairseid Mhor (Big Harbour). Before the island church was built in 1912, the islanders worshipped in this cave and even after they had a church it was still the custom to have babies baptised in the cave. The last family left the island in 1943. The entrance is like a large gothic arch and there is a low stone pillar which was used as a pulpit. Beside it is a depression in the stone, fed by drips of water from the cave roof and this served as a font. Rows of stones were used as pews by the congregation. A service was held on Good Friday, 18th April 2003, when the Reverend lain Greenshields from Kenseleyre Church of Scotland on Skye led the congregation of 64 in worship. This was the first service since 1970.

Rona and the northern tip of Raasay are composed of gneisses of the Lewisian complex. These rocks are not soluble so there are no solutional or karst caves. Church Cave is a sea cave formed by the action of waves. Erosion here was probably higher because of fractures in the rock produced by tectonic forces. The size of the stamp is 46mm by 34mm with roulette rather than traditional perforations. There was also a first day cover (illustrated).

A second edition was issued on 1st August 2004 to coincide with the delivery of a new GR post box presented by Royal Mail and mounted on the newly completed pier and pontoon at Arcairseid Mhor (Big Harbour). The size of these stamps is smaller (35mm by 26mm) depicting the same views, colours and values.

A second issue was produced on 1st May 2004 depicting four artwork designs, the 25p multicoloured value of which illustrates an external view of Church Cave, including congregation. The artist was Rebecca Ellis from Knutsford, Cheshire.