Welcome to the 2025 Thai stamp program. And yes, I realise I haven’t posted last year yet, although its almost done. Not sure why I decided to post 2025 first, but here we are. Its nice to be ahead of the posting curve for a change. Researching Thailand’s stamps can be a bit tricky. The dating and translations often  trip me up, so if you spot an error, please let me know. I’ve gone back and forth so many times, I’m not sure I see them any longer. 2024 is mostly done, but I need to do a vigorous fact checking before I let it loose into the wild. Hang in there Thai stamp tans. It’s coming soon.

The big change this year is in the Valentine’s Day offering. For a few years, Thai post has offered up some beautiful flowers as symbols of love with a few even scented. This year, they shift gears and leave the flowers behind in favour of the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi, renowned for her beauty. While I enjoyed the roses, there is something deeply alluring about designer Kamonporn Triyakul’s Goddess. Perhaps next year, we’ll be treated to another interpretation of Lakshmi.  

Hope you enjoy the 2025 Thai stamp program. It’s always an adventure exploring their stamps. 

Cheers
Catpaw

Images are courtesy ThaiPost. 

January

Year of the Snake

1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 10, a variety of special cancels
offset

This is now the11th time Thailand post has used of artwork by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The Year of the Snake features the semi-divine Naga, a half-human, half cobra mythical creature.  The series began using the Princess’ art with the 2015 Year of the Goat (also referred to as the sheep and ram) as a project honouring her 60th birthday. 

The cover shows a more traditional view of the Naga with a crown. The Naga can shift between human and snake form at will and, although dangerous to evil doers, are generally beneficial to humans. 

The importance of Naga Devata in Hinduism is multifaceted. They are revered as guardians of the underworld and are believed to possess immense spiritual power. The Naga Devata are also seen as intermediaries between humans and the divine, often invoked for protection, healing, and blessings. Their role extends beyond mere guardianship, as they are also associated with various natural elements and cosmic functions.

In Hindu mythology, the Naga Devata are often depicted as semi-divine beings with the ability to shape-shift between human and serpent forms. They are commonly associated with water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and oceans, and are believed to reside in the netherworld, known as Patala. The Naga Devata are also linked to various Hindu deities, including Vishnu and Shiva, and play crucial roles in several mythological narratives.
Naga Devata: The Serpent Deities Worshipped in Hinduism

Designer: Mr. Thanetphonchaiwong | นายธเนศพลไชยวงศ์ 
ภาพนักษัตรปีมะเส็ง ภาพวาดฝีพระหัตถ์สมเด็จพระกนิษฐาธิราชเจ้า กรมสมเด็จพระเทพรัตนราชสุดา ฯ สยามบรมราชกุมารี

Release date: January 3. 2025

National Children’s Day – Little Prince

2 stamps, 2 sheets of 10, FDC, cancel (couldn’t find the FDC on ThaiPost’s website)
offset

Released on National Children’s Day, January 11, 2025.

This pair of stamps features French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Little Prince wearing an Raj Pattern Thai cloak. The Little Prince was first published in 1943. The stamps were created with the cooperation of the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation.

Note: the cover image is from the National Children’s Day 2025 Commemorative Stamps – The Little Prince

Designer: Euamporn Supharoekchai | นางสาวเอื้อมพรศุภฤกษ์ชัย
Supharoekchai also provided the artwork. 

Release date: January 11, 2025

Archway in Honor of His Majesty the King’s 72nd Birthday Anniversary

4 stamps, sheetlets of 8
offset with embossing and spot varnish

Yellow stamps: 
Archway at Damrong Sathit Bridge.  
Archway at Mo Mi Intersection 

Red stamps: 
Archway at Damrong Sathit Bridge
Archway at Mo Mi Intersection

Two Commemorative Archways to honour His Majesty’s birthday

Designer: Ms. Mayuree Naknison | นางสาวมยุรี นาคนิศร

Release date: January 25, 2025

Honor of His Majesty the King on the Occasion of His Majesty’s 6th Birthday Ceremony on 28 July 2024

1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheetlet of 4
offset with embossing and silkscreen

King Rama X,  Vajiralongkorn วชิราลงกรณ, assumed the throne  October 13, 2016, when his father died. He was crowned May 2019.

Designer: Mr. Thanetphon Chaiwong | นายธเนศพล ไชยวงศ์ 

Release date: January 28, 2025

February

Symbols of Love – Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of love

1 stamp, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, sheets of 8
offset 

Thailand’s annual Valentine’s stamp features the Goddess Lakshmi. Lakshmi is also associated with luck, wealth, beauty and occasionally love.  

In the stamp, there are elements commonly associated with her:

• Four arms signify righteousness, desire, wealth and liberation. 
• Lakshmi is traditionally shown holding a lotus flower which represent beauty and purity.
• She wears a gold crown

As Lord Vishnu’s consort, she is reincarnated each time he is. She was said to be born from a churning ocean of milk.

Designer: Ms. Kamonporn Triyakul | นางสาวกมลพร ตรียกูล

Release date: February 7, 2025

World Pet Love Day

1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 8
offset with blue foil stamping

The person in the stamps is a mailman.  This stamp is meant to promote kindness towards animals, especially abandoned and injured ones. 

Designer: Ms. Mayuree Nakhanisorn | นางสาวมยุรีนาคนิศร 

Release date: February 20, 2025

March

International Women’s Day

1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 10
offset with embossing and spot varnish

The stamp depicts the goddess Phra Mae Phosop. She “…protects and cares for the crops to grow and flourish, conveying the importance of women who have influenced beliefs and thoughts since historical times”
แสตมป์ วันสตรีสากล แบบชุด (1286)

Pra Mae is also referred to as the rice goddess and the Mother of Rice Prosperity. 

In Thai legend, it is said that after being ill-treated by someone Mae Phosop retreated from humankind into the woods where no-one could find her, causing terrible harvests and much suffering. But she was convinced to return to society on being told the Lord Buddha was returning to Earth and needed her help to fulfill his mission. She agreed to return but only if she be treated with respect and kindness. On returning, humankind did treat her with the respect and kindness she deserved (as shown by the Thai Rice Goddess Ceremonies), and she blessed everyone with abundant harvests.
The Buddha & The Thai Rice Goddess Ceremony | Mae Phosop

Designer: Mr. Suchart Kwanwan | นายสุชาติ ขวัญหวาน

Release date: March 8, 2025