History

History

Modified	#	Title
2022 Jan 19	002	Samuel J. Smith, the publisher sold Siamese Stamps!
2021 July 17	001	"Bs" used after the post office closed?

002 - Samuel J. Smith, the publisher sold Siamese Stamps!

Siam Weekly Advertise 29 September 1883

It is interesting to see that Samuel J. Smith had a branch Post Office of the Siamese PO at his office at Bangk'olem in August 1883. It was on 4 August 1883 that Prince Bhanurangsi declared the launch of the postal service. Smith was the editor of a newspaper and publisher of several. Seeing the volume of mail he would incur it made sense to have an in house Postal Outlet.

001 - "Bs" used after the post office closed?

Some have speculated that any remaining “Bs” when the British Post Office closed on 30 June 1885 were returned to the Treasury in Singapore and reissued for use there. Others have suggested that firms with offices in Singapore sent their remaining stock of “Bs” there and used them on mail.

My thinking is that this never happened:

Siam was to join the UPU a month earlier, but this was delayed due to an outbreak of cholera in Europe adding one more month to use up stock.
The last shipment of stamps was 27 May 1885.
The Postmaster at Bangkok acquired the stamps at 90% face. The reason for overprinting the stamps with a “B” was to prevent them being used outside of Bangkok.
Stamp collectors and stamp dealers had discovered the British Post Office. Early ads in philatelic journal confirmation that dealers were offering Bangkok issues during the life of the post office. Since he bought the stamps from the British Post Office in Singapore the retiring Postmaster likely kept what was left and sold them at a profit. Note the large blocks of mint Bangkok stamps that appear in exhibits and in auctions.