When you have the book “Norddeutscher Lloyd” by Edwin Drechsel, on page 380 you can find a small photo of the DELPHIN. And I am sure the ship on the photo is also used for the design of the Palau stamp of 1990.
Stanley Gibbons gives for the stamp DELPHIN Spanish mail ship 1890, which is not correct.
The only difference in the design with the photo is the funnel which looks bigger on the stamp.
She was built in 1877 by Lobnitz, Couldborn & Co, at Renfrew, Scotland as a yacht under the name SEA QUEEN.
Tonnage 360 tons, dim. 46.63 x 7.62m.
Later renamed in SOPRANO, then MARQUESA and fitted out with an auxiliary motor, speed 19 knots.
The bought by the New Guinea Government, renamed DELPHIN evidently managed by the Norddeutscher Lloyd.
Then was she used as a Regierings Dampfschiff under the name R.D.S. DELPHIN on the Carolines Island mailing.
Evidently connected outlying places to Simpsonhafen (now Rabaul). She carried mail but no Sea Post.
1903 was she replaced by the SEESTERN.
31 November 1909 the DELPHIN attended at Madang the commemoration of 25 years earlier the first raising of the German flag and annexation in 1884 of New Guinea.
Thereafter she became station vessel in the Carolines.
1912 Sold to Hong Kong.
1914 Lloyds List sans owner, fate unknown
On some ship-name markings of the Karolinen (Carolines) you can find the ship stamp R.D.S. Delphin.
Palau 1990 45c sg380. scott247
Source: Norddeutscher Lloyd by Edwin Drechsel.