BANGKOK (Siam, Thailand)

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Stamps of Straits Settlements overprinted with a 'B' were used in Bangkok, Siam (Thailand) for the British Consular Post Office. The first stamps with 'B' overprint arrived in May 1883 (other sources say 1882?). On 30 June 1885 the use of these stamps was stopped. If I'm well informed, these stamps were not cancelled in Siam, but only when they arrived in Singapore (making the identification of forgeries even more difficult!).

Be extremely careful when acquiring these stamps. Many forged overprints exist!

 

1882 Stamp of India overprinted with crown and value (first issue of Strait Settlements)

Image reproduced with permission from: http://www.sandafayre.com
image reproduced with permission from: http://www.sandafayre.com

  'B' on 32 c on 2 a yellow

For the specialist: this stamp has watermark 'Elephant head'. I don't know if this stamp exists genuinly used.

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
32 c on 2 a RR ??  

 

1882 Stamps of Straits Settlements overprinted with a 'B'

Certified genuine 6 c violet Image reproduced with permission from: http://www.sandafayre.com 12 c lilac 24 c green 30 c lilac

  2 c brown
  2 c red
  4 c red
  4 c brown
  5 c brown
  5 c blue
  6 c violet
  8 c yellow
  10 c black
  12 c blue
  12 c lilac
  24 c green
  30 c lilac
  96 c grey

Surcharged

'TWO CENTS' on 32 c orange

  'TWO CENTS' on 32 c orange

For the specialist, these stamps were issued with watermark CC Crown or CA crown.

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks

Watermark CC Crown

2 c brown RR R  
4 c red R R  
5 c brown *** ***  
6 c ** **  
8 c *** ***  
10 c R ***  
12 c blue R R  
24 c *** ***  
30 c RRR RRR  
96 c RRR RR  

Watermark CA crown

2 c brown R R  
2 c red ** **  
4 c red RR RR  
4 c brown ** **  
5 c blue *** ***  
6 c *** ***  
8 c ** **  
10 c *** ***  
12 c lilac *** ***  
24 c R R  

Surcharged

2 c on 32 c RRR RRR  

These stamps often exist with a Singapore cancel.


Another mute cancel consisting of a large square with small alternating blocks.

Forgeries: the overprint is quite easy to falsify, there exist many forgeries, (by the way, I'm not 100% sure that all the above stamps are genuine), examples:

Forgeries!

Forged overprint forged overprint

Inverted overprint:


Is this a genuine stamp?


Other forgeries possibly done by Oneglia; Both the stamps and the overprints are forged. Note the 'white eye' in these engraved forgeries and the 'bars' cancel.


Postal Stationery

1885 Postcard of Straits Settlements overprinted 'B'

  3 c blue

 


Fiscal stamp

A 20 c revenue stamp of Straits Settlements was overprinted with a 'B' to be used in Bangkok. I have never seen this fiscal stamp. If anybody posesses a picture, please contact me!


According to http://www.michelhoude.com/BMSM/Bangkok/PresPSSC/P01.html, the following firm chops were used in Bangkok:
A. Bjurling & Cie
Markwald & Co.
Ameeroodin Mahomedbhoymoocha Ld
Falck & Beidek
Falck, Bramann & Beidek
Möeller & Meisner
Götte & Co.
Ramsay & Co. Exporters
Roger Clarke & Co.
The Borneo Company Limited
"Windsor, Redlich & Co Siam" or "Windsor, Rose & Co Siam"


"AMEEROODIN MAHOMEDHOYMOOCHA LD BANGKOK" in an ellipse with date in the center


"FALCK BRAMANN & BEIDEK BANGKOK (SIAM)"


Möeller & Meisner; also note the mute cancel.


"FORWARDED BY THE BORNEO COMPANY LIMITED SIAM" in large ellipse "FORWARDED BY" in the center.


"WINDSOR, REDLICH & CO BANGKOK SIAM"


"WINDSOR, ROSE & CO. BANGKOK. * SIAM. *"

There are also a few Consular Security Markings:
The British Consulate Seal
U.S.Consulate Bangkok
U.S. Legation Bangkok
"Kaiserlich Deutsches Consulat in Bankok" (German Consulate)

On the same website, some forged 'B' overprints are identified by impossible firm chops. I.e. the 'B' overprint was falsely applied to genuinely used Straits stamps, which were not used in Bangkok.


Copyright by Evert Klaseboer