shipstamps.co.uk

East Indiaman built 1803. 450Gt. A 3 deck merchantman on London-India service. Copper sheathed hull was supported by iron standards. Her surveying port was Newcastle. Ships of iron from 480 to 520 tons were the most suitable vessels for bringing home what was known as 'gruff' goods, that is, cargoes of Indian goods consisting of such raw materials as cotton, rice, sugar, pepper, hemp and saltpetre. Fine goods, such as silks, muslins and teas were carried in the companys ships, over the 520tn mark - Christmas Is. 1972. 7c. SG43 (SB March 1972)

The captain was William Stone, who made the most accurate map of the island to date (1805).

Ex Australia's Post.

Richard A. Hindle.

Christmas Island issued a stamp of 7c in 1972 which shows us a barque rigged ship with the name ASIA and the year 1805. Lloyds Registry gives only two vessels with the name ASIA in 1805

The ASIA given above was for sure not in the vicinity of Christmas Island in 1805 as you can find in the book Ships of the East India Company by Rowan Hackman, you can find the ASIA in Part no 3 were the ship is given from 1813-1834 as a Licensed Ship by the EIC. Before the ASIA was a London Transport as given on this website https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia_%281799_ship%29

There is another ASIA chartered by the EIC built-in 1798 who was in the area of Christmas Island in 1805, but I can’t find any connection with the island and the ship during 1805. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia_%281798_EIC_ship%29
Most probably she is the ship depict on the stamp.

Christmas Islands 1972 7c sg 43, scott 45.