Bengal Circle Octagon Postmark On Straits Settlements

An eight cent Victoria with the octagon cancel of the Bengal Circle, cancelled in Singapore.



I put this in the ABC thread, but I don't want to derail that one, so here it is.

To oversimplify it for purposes of a summary, I know that Straits Settlements postal services were administered under the Bengal Circle operating out of Calcutta. Stamps of India were used prior to SS becoming a Crown colony in 1867.

SG says that the Singapore octagon was replaced with a duplex in 1865, and this stamp was not issued until December, 1867, at the earliest. Also, I note that SG prices the Singapore octagon on Indian stamps as late as 1867, so...the octagon must not have been completely retired?

SG addresses the Bengal Circle cancels on stamps of India, but not on Straits stamps. I'll assume no particular premium for stamps of Straits Settlements. Yes? No?

Also, Wikipedia says that Straits Settlements were administered under the Burma Circle after 1861. I didn't see that in SG.

Any information would be appreciated.

Robson Lowe (Encyclopaedia p.299) says that the Indian type cancellations, including that typical Bengal Circle cancellation, 'can be found used as late as 1889'. Apparently the Burma Circle continued to use the Bengal Circle type cancellations after its formation, until they were replaced by All-India type cancellations.

Thanks for that!