Salvaged and wreck mail collections From the Wreck Mail

‘Malabar’ – 1860

‘Malabar’ – 1860

Description

Saved from the wreck of the 'Malabar.' This P&O steamer, bound to Hong Kong, was caught in a gale in the harbour of Galle, Ceylon, on 28th May 1860. She struck rocks, eventually becoming submerged, and finally broke up in July of that year. The passengers and crew and a portion of the mails were saved, and after protracted salvage operations, the whole of the specie on board, amounting to 1029 boxes, were recovered.

No letter from this wreck is known to collectors, but the cachet shown above is recorded in the proof at the G.P.O. London under date January 1861.