SIAM / THAILAND / ราชอาณาจักรไทย
The name of Siam was changed to Thailand in 1939 but since this was accompanied by no other significant changes,
such as boundaries, they have been taken together and listed as one country. The red seals of Thailand appear quite often on internet auctions,
usually mint, but one appeared recently used as a seal on a telegram.
| Updates. The above was written by Steve Hiscocks. The name also reverted to Siam during 1945-49. Re-numbered with 'RH' (Revised Hiscocks) numbers. No pricing as yet. |
According to wikipedia.org The Thai solar calendar was adopted by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in AD 1888 as the Siamese version of the Gregorian calendar.
Years are now counted in the Buddhist Era (BE) which began 543 years before the Christian Era. Thus you need to subtract 543 years from Thai dates.
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| 1873-1910 | 1910 onwards | Army logo |
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| #1 34mm | #2 |
The Royal coat of arms shown on these was created in 1873 and discontinued in 1910.
| RH # | Type. | was. | Description | Mint | Used | On telegram |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RH1 | 1 | 1 | Scalloped. Oval. Embossed White/red / white. 'Siamese'. | - | - | - |
| RH2 | 2 | 2 | Scalloped. Circular. Embossed White/red / white. 'Siamese'. | - | - | - |
Top says: กรมไปรษณีย์โทรเลข (Post and Telegraph Department)
Left panel says ตราผนึก / ไปรษณีย่ = "seals / post office" - note accent on last character.
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| #3 41mm (left panel says ตราผนึก / ไปรษณีย่) | #4 1941 ? |
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| #5 1984, 44mm I have seen one used postally on an airmail envelope dated 2527 (1984) |
Type #5 has the ink suffused through to the back.
| RH # | Type. | was | Description | Mint | Used | On telegram |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RH3 | 3 | 3 | Imperf. Red / white. Raised wings. Narrow margins, R.S. (Royal Siamese ?) Post & Telegraph. | - | - | - |
| RH4 | 4 | 6 | Rough perf. Red / white. Wings horizontal. Narrow margin. | - | - | - |
| RH5 | 5 | 4 | 1984, Rough perf. 11¼. Red (shades) on white. Wide margins. Raised wings. Post & Telegraph Department. | - | - | - |
Hiscocks added the following note:
| Note. The printing of #3 can be very poor indeed; so much so that two copies can appear at first sight to be from different plates when closer examination shows them to have been from the same plate. |
My note: The difference between 'Wings up' and 'Wings horizontal' does not seem to be a matter of time period.
From what I can glean, 'wings up' indicates a close connexion to Royalty, whereas 'Wings horizontal' indicates more like 'by Royal assent'.
Changed from: กรมไปรษณีย์โทรเลข (Post and Telegraph Department)
to: กรมไปรสนึยโทรเลข (2 central letters).
Left panel says ตราผนึก / ไปรสนึย = "seals / post office" (bottom changed.) - no accent on last character.
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| #6 43mm (left panel says ตราผนึก / ไปรสนึย, bottom changed) | #6a 42mm |
Type #6a has the ink suffused through to the back.
The non-Royal Post & Telegraph of Thailand was set up in 1932.
| RH # | Type. | was | Description | Mint | Used | On telegram |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RH6 | 6 | 5 | Rough perf. 11. Rose-carmine / white. Wings horizontal. Wide margin. | - | - | - |
| RH6a | Red / white. | - | - | - |
If anyone can provide scans to help with this, I am happy to give appropriate credit.
