S.S. 'RAINBOW' - RARE RED 2-RING "STAMPED/RAINBOW/MALACCA" O...

Hammer

£450

S.S. 'RAINBOW' - RARE RED 2-RING "STAMPED/RAINBOW/MALACCA" ON STRAITS 1883 2c ON 32c PALE RED; c.1883 off-cover Straits Settlements 1883 2c on 32c Pale Red surcharge cancelled by a 60% complete strike of the rare red 2-ring "STAMPED/RAINBOW/MALACCA" cancel. The history of this ship which was acquired by the first Rajah Brooke in 1860, is outlined in Lt. Cdr. Smith's June 1966 article in the London Philatelist [copy included]; it seems that by 1883, when this stamp was used, the vessel was regularly reading between Singapore and Malacca. A handful of stamps are known with this unusual cancel.Cross Reference: MALAYA - STRAITS SETTLEMENTS, MARITIME MAIL