A striking early definitive from the Maldives Islands, printed in vivid carmine-red and featuring the traditional “Boduberu” drum—one of the earliest national cultural motifs used in Maldivian philately. Issued under the Sultanate period, this design belongs to the iconic Moslem-script series printed between 1906 and the early 1930s. The stamp carries Arabic-Dhivehi script, ornate geometric framing, and the vertical “MALDIVES” inscription at left.
Collectors prize this issue for its classic typography, locally significant subject, and variations in shade, perforation, and paper tone. Your example is nicely postmarked, showing authentic period postal use—an attractive addition to any Indian Ocean or early Islamic-script themed collection.