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Thailand (Siam)

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 4 August 1883.

CURRENCY
1883, 32 solot = 16 atts = 8 pelnung = 4
songpy = 2 fuang = 1 sulung.
1909, 100 satangs = 1 tical.
1912, 100 satangs = 1 baht.

Now properly called Thai Muang (Land of the Free People), though the people were called Siamese before they were free, and Siam and Thailand have been almost equally used. Siam became a strong kingdom in the 13th century occasionally succumbing to Burmese domination. The Chakri dynasty has ruled since 1782 with Bangkok as capital. Laos was ceded to France in 1893 and other provinces in 1907. Claims to the unfederated Malay states (Kedah, Kelantan, Penis and Trengganu) were relinquished to Britain in 1909. The name of the country was changed officially to Thailand in June 1939. Between September 1945 and 10 May 1949 the name reverted to Siam.

Postal History
Even the Court had no communications outside the country until King Mongkut started a voluminous correspondence with European countries.

A British consular PO was opened in Bangkok in 1858 which exchanged mails by steamer through Singapore. Stamps of Hong Kong are known on mail from Bangkok. From 1882 to 1 July 1885 used stamps of Straits Settlements overprinted 'B'. An internal mail started in Bangkok in 1881. Siam joined the UPU in 1885.