Built as a one-deck iron cargo-passenger vessel under yard No 40 by Alexander Denny, Albert Yard, Dumbarton, Scotland for his own account.
Launched as VICTOR EMANUEL.
Tonnage 364 gross, 262 net, dim. 146.8 x 20.9 x 12.9ft.
One compound 2-cyl. steam engine, manufactured by Blackwood & Gordon, Paisley.
16 February 1856 completed.
Register port, Glasgow.
After completion used in the service from the Clyde to the Mediterranean.
1857 A Danish-Scottish shipping company Koch & Henderson got subsidize by the Danish Government to commence a mail service from Denmark to the Faeroe Islands and Iceland.
13 April 1858 the VICTOR EMANUEL arrived in Copenhagen for a charter from Copenhagen-Scotland-Torshavn, Faeroe-Iceland service, she was chartered by C.P.A. Koch.
17 April 1858 sailed for the first time from Copenhagen in the mail service to the Faeroe Islands and Iceland via Scotland.
28 August 1858 sold to John Mitchell, Glasgow, not renamed.
07 March 1859 Sold to C.P.A. Koch & Wm Henderson, Copenhagen for £7500, renamed ARCTURUS.
07 March 1863 arrived at Glasgow for repairs and a new boiler.
16 July 1864 sold to L.C.Poulsen, Copenhagen, thereafter chartered by the Danish Government, and used as troopship during the war against Germany.
16 June 1864 again sold to Koch & Henderson, not renamed. When Koch & Henderson merged with two other Danish companies, Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab A/S (DFDS) (The United Steamship Company A/S) was formed
01 January 1867 taken over by DFDS, Copenhagen. She was taken over for 60.000 Rigsdaler.
Used in the service from Copenhagen to Iceland and from Stettin to Copenhagen, west coast Norway.
18 August 1871 she arrived by the yard of Henderson, Coulburn & Co., Renfrew, Scotland for lengthening and new engine and boiler.
1872 Again in service, tonnage 472 gross, 241 net, dim. 182,10 x 21.3 x 12.7ft.
New 1 compound 4-cyl steam engine fitted in, manufactured by Henderson, Coulburn & Co., Renfrew.
December 1877 in collision with the Norwegian steamer S/S VIDAR, the ARCTURUS got heavily damaged; she grounded but was later refloated and repaired at Bergen.
11 February 1878 she made trials after repair.
1880 Minor conversions amidships.
05 April 1887 on a voyage from Copenhagen to Danzig in ballast she collided with the British steamer SAVONA, and sank off Falsterbo.
Crew and passengers were saved by the SAVONA.
On both stamps she is seen with two masts, and open bridge,after she was lengthened she got three masts, and a closed bridge, so the vessel is depict as she was before 1872.
Faroe Islands 1983 2.20ore sg78, scott?
Iceland 1991 30k sg778, scott 745b
Source: from DFDS 1866-1991, World Ship Society and some web-sites.