?Tin Can Mail?
Postage stamps mounted on collector?s album page
Gustafson Tonga Island Collection

This collection features the unique postal history of the island of Niuafo?ou, part of the country of Tonga, which was sometimes called Tin Can Island in the early twentieth century. Since the island lacked a deep water harbor, mail deliveries were dropped near the shore in metal containers. Residents retrieved their mail on small boats.