Get Ready for a Thai Stamp Onslaught

The next two-and-a-half weeks will see a veritable avalanche of new issues emanating from the mail bags of Thai Post with no less than seven separate releases scheduled. For a country that usually sees between one and three stamp issues in any given month that’s quite a change. But a pleasant one for a collector such as myself.

In fact, two of the reasons I love collecting Thai stamps are the limited number of releases per year and their affordability. It does help that the designs are for the most part strikingly beautiful and the subject matter invariably interesting (even the fact that a stamp will be issued this December commemorating a cement company this is “interesting”).

Most of the upcoming stamps will be issued in conjunction with the massive THAILAND 2013 World Stamp Exhibition to be held at the Siam Paragon mall in Bangkok from the 2nd until the 14th of August.

The international-level stamp show coincides with the 130th anniversary of the very first Thai (well, Siamese) postage stamps and the creation of the kingdom’s own postal system. Prior to 4th August 1883, the mails were handled by the British Post Office and routed through Singapore with stamps of India and the Straits Settlements (modern-day Malaysia and Singapore) overprinted “B” for Bangkok.

While I won’t be attending THAILAND 2013, I am celebrating with the resumption of my own collection and setting aside a few baht for the new Thai stamps and first day covers. I am also preparing an article about the 1883 set of stamps; look for that later in the week.

In preparing this list of upcoming issues, I could find very little information about the stamps in English. Thai Post’s philatelic bulletin went through a redesign this year and seems to arrive much less frequently. As I purchase the various stamps, I will post photos and details on my “I Love Thai Stamps” Facebook page (the backs of Thai first day covers always include an informative paragraph or two in both Thai and English).

29 July 2013
Issue #1010: Owl Postage Stamps
4 5-baht stamps and one souvenir sheet of 4

2 August 2013
Issue #1011: Thailand 2013 World Stamp Exhibition Commemorative Stamps (3rd Series)
8 5-baht stamps

4 August 2013
Issue #1012: National Communications Day 2013 Commemorative Stamp
1 9-baht stamp – the world’s first to include a “Lucky Draw” number

4 August 2013
Issue #1013: 130th Anniversary of Thai Postal Services Commemorative Stamps
1 5-baht stamp and souvenir sheet of 10

4 August 2013
Issue #1014: General Post Office After Renovation Postage Stamps
3 5-baht stamps in sheets of 10

12 August 2013
Issue #999: Preeminent Protector of Arts and Crafts Postage Stamp
6 3-baht stamps
(Information below obtained from Thai Stamp Shop.)
The Preeminent Protector of Arts and Crafts

Realizing the importance and value of all artistic fields including architecture, sculpture, painting, literature, music, dance and craftsmanship, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit has dedicated her effort to preserve these arts as legacy, identity and unique culture of the nation and promote them to the world.

With a great sense of appreciation in H.M. the Queen’s foresight and contribution, on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, the National Culture Commission has a resolution to designate the title “Preeminent Protector of Arts and Crafts” which means “the Great Artist who Preserves Arts” to H.M. the Queen.

Quantity of stamps: 700,000 pieces per design

Printing Process: Lithography, Multi-colour

Designer: Mr. chakkabhand Posayakrit

FDC Price: 35 Baht

Size : 30 x 48 mm. (Vertical-measured from perforation to perforation)

14 August 2013
Issue #1015: 10th Anniversary of Thailand Post Public Company Limited Commemorative Stamp
1 10-baht stamp in a mini-sheet of four

Please note that most post offices will be closed on the 4th (a Sunday) and the 12th (the birthday of HRH Queen Sirikit).

The next stamps on this year’s schedule won’t arrive until 24th September. We are, however, waiting on a couple of issues postponed from earlier in the year (Issue #1005: 150th Anniversary of H.R.H. Prince Narisaranuvattiwongse Commemorative Stamp and Issue #1009: 120th Anniversary of Franco-Siamese War in 1893 Commemorative Stamp) and these could be released at any time.

It’s lucky that I live close enough to the main Phuket Town post office and the neighboring Philatelic Museum that I can walk there in about 10 minutes. I’m going to be there a few times in the coming month! (I like to add the Phuket postmark to my first day covers – the clerk in the museum lets me use their old handstamp.)

It appears that it’s an auspicious time (as my Thai friends would say) to have picked up my tongs, albums, and catalogues once more. It’s also a good time to start saving for the next international-level stamp show to be held in the region. Will I be able to attend the MALAYSIA 2014 World Youth Stamp Exhibition (coinciding with my birthday) or, perhaps even better, SINGAPORE 2015 World Stamp Exhibition? Only time will tell. In the meantime, I’ve got my stamps to keep me company.