This year marks the 140th anniversary of Thailand’s post office, and the occasion is being commemorated with the release of four special sets. One of the best is a stamp on stamp design featuring the famed Solot Series, issued August 4, 1883.
Thai Post’s Myuran Naknisorn’s นางสาวมยุรี นาคนิศร treatment of the 1883 Solots has created one of the most beautiful sets of the year. Her addition of the delicate background work on each stamp, and the choice of font, borders on exquisite. The Thai Stamp Catalogue website has an excellent write up on the original series so don’t forget to check it out. Designing the 1st Series – THAI STAMP CATALOGUE (weebly.com)
This year, I’m later than I expected in publishing the Thai stamps, primarily because I’ve taken time to try and standardise artist/designer names using Thai Post’s own English website translations. As well, I’ve been doing more research on the artists so I can fill in details about their previous works. It’s a bit like piecing together a big puzzle. In the past a number of readers have generously offered corrections to names and places, so hopefully they will continue to do so. It’s good to get things accurate.
The year starts with the annual Lunar New Year stamps by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn who has created the artwork since 2015, starting with the Goat.
It’s a a great collection, but the Rooster is the particularly good. A nice way to start the year!
January
Year of the Rabbit
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 10
offset
Each year Thailand post issues a Lunar New Year stamp created by Princess Sirindhorn.
Designer: Udorn Niyomthum | นายอุดร นิยมธรรม
Artist: HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
Release date: January 4, 2023
Children’s Day – e-sports
2 stamps, FDC, cancel, sheets of 10
lithography
Designer: Thanet Polchaiwong | นายธเนศ พลไชยวงศ์
Release date: January 14, 2023
February
Symbol of Love
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 10
lithography, special scented stamp
This annual set features a different scented stamp.
Designer: Euamporn Suparukchai | นางสาวเอื้อมพร ศุภฤกษ์ชัย
Ms Suparukchai designed the previous Love stamps.
Release date: February 7, 2023
April
Thai Heritage Conservation Day 2023
4 stamps, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, 4 sheets of 10
lithography
Thailand observes Heritage Conservation day each April 2.
Designer: Myuran Naknisorn | นางสาวมยุรี นาคนิศร
Ms Naknisorn also designed last year’s Heritage Conservation stamps.
Release date: April 2, 2023
May
Her Majesty Chaofa Kanlayaniwattana Royal Department of Narathiwat Rajanagarindra
4 stamps, FDC, cancel, 4 sheets of 10
lithography
Designer: Lt. Patipol Soking ว่าที่ ร.ท.ปฏิพล ซอกิ่
Release date: May 6, 2023
The Five Buddhas – Visakha Bucha Day
5 stamps, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, 5 sheets of 10
lithography
Thailand celebrates Visakha Bucha Day each year with a special stamp series dedicated to the Buddha. Last year’s theme was Flowers in the Buddha’s History.
There is a Thai folktale about an albino crow who laid five eggs. One day, a storm blew all the eggs apart and they were found and raised by a chicken, a naga, a turtle, a cow and a Singha (lion). When they became adults, they were all ordained as Buddhist monks until they attained enlightenment and became the five Buddhas statues named after the animals that raised them: Kakusandha Buddha (Chicken), Konagamana Buddha (Naga), Kassapa Buddha(Turtle), Gautama Buddha (Cow) and Phra Sri Ariya Metteyya (Lion/Singha). Currently situated in the era of Gautama Buddha, Buddhism is believed to be 5,000 years old, according to legend, and a cataclysmic event will occur. After that, Phra Sri Ariya Metteyya will be reincarnated into the world to spread Buddhism again.
from May – Aug 2023 Stamp Catalogue
Designer: Thanet Polchaiwong | นายธเนศ พลไชยวงศ์
Release date: May 26, 2023
June
140th Anniversary of Thailand Post and World Philatelic Exhibition 2023
First in new series to be issued in 2023
4 stamps, FDC, cancel, 4 sheets of 40
lithography
This multi set series celebrates 140 years of Thailand’s postal system.
Designer: Lt. Patipol Soking ว่าที่ ร.ท.ปฏิพล ซอกิ่
Release date: June 1, 2023
Thai traditional dress
4 stamps, FDC, cancel, 4 sheets of 10
offset
- Naga Phuan ordination represents the Naga procession
- Making a Naga Gift, signifying the preparation for entering the umbrella of the Patras girl
- Naga in Poi Sang Long Tradition It conveys the beauty of Naga dresses and accessories
- Novice ordination represents the ceremony in the temple
Stamp Catalogue Vol.2 / 2023 had an interesting write up on this set:
The ordination tradition has been inherited from the devotion to Buddhism to study Dhamma and repay one’s parents’ gratitude. Poy Sang Long is the novice ordination tradition of the Tai Yai people. During the ceremony, the novices wear a loincloth, an embroidered silk hemline shirt, and a floral headdress. This tradition takes place annually between March and April. Nak Phuan ordination is a tradition in which the ordained sits on a constructed horse to symbolize the horse Buddha used as a vehicle for his assumption. It serves as a test of the mind for Nak (an aspirant to ordain as a Monk) to balance on the rocking horse that bounces to the rhythm of the music. Kwan Nak is a ceremony that Mo Kwan (Master of Ceremony) sings for the Nak to be grateful for one’s birth. The tradition invites Kwan Nak and allows the Nak to bow down respectfully and ask for relatives’ forgiveness. Novice Ordination allows boys to be ordained to reach the Three Jewels and preserve the 10 Buddhist precepts. They can be ordained further as monks when they have all the qualifications at 20.
Designer: Lt. Patipol Soking ว่าที่ ร.ท.ปฏิพล ซอกิ่
Release date: June 21, 2023
July
Her Majesty Chaofa Kanlayaniwattana
4 stamps, FDC, cancel, 4 sheets of 10
lithography
Designer: Lt. Patipol Soking ว่าที่ ร.ท.ปฏิพล ซอกิ่
Release date: July 10, 2023
Birthday of His Majesty the King Vajirakut
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 10
lithography with gold foil stamping
Designer: Ms. Eumporn Suparurkchai นางสาวเอื้อมพร ศุภฤกษ์ชัย
Release date: July 28, 2023
August
Her Majesty the Queen Mother of the Royal Millennial
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 10
lithography with aluminum foil stamping
Designer: Myuran Naknisorn | นางสาวมยุรี นาคนิศร
Release date: August 12, 2023
September
140th Anniversary Commemorative Postage Stamp Thai Philatelic
2nd set in series 1
4 stamps, FDC, cancel, 4 sheets of 8
foil printing and embossing stamping
This set of stamps, the first Thai issues, was originally released August 4, 1883. They depicted King Rama 5.
Designer: Myuran Naknisorn | นางสาวมยุรี นาคนิศร
Release date: September 20, 2023
October
84th Anniversary Commemorative Postage Stamp, Government Lottery Office
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 10
lithography
Founded April 5, 1939
Designer: Lt. Patipol Soking ว่าที่ ร.ท.ปฏิพล ซอกิ่
Release date: October 1, 2023
World Post Day 2023
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 10
lithography
Designer: Euamporn Suparukchai | นางสาวเอื้อมพร ศุภฤกษ์ชัย
Release date: October 9, 2023
50th Anniversary Commemorative Postage Stamp, October 14, 1973
1 stamp, FDC, cancel sheets of 10
lithography
Designer: Lt. Patipol Soking ว่าที่ ร.ท.ปฏิพล ซอกิ่
Release date: October 14, 2023
50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Thailand and Hungary
Release date: October 24, 2023
November
140th Anniversary of Thai Postal Services and Thailand 2023 World Stamp Championship Exhibition
2nd series
2 stamps, FDC, cancel, 2 sheets of 10
lithography with 3D Embossed and Copper Foil Hot Stamping
Designer: Myuran Naknisorn | นางสาวมยุรี นาคนิศร
Release date: November 27, 2023
Centenary of the Death of H.R.H. Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse, Prince of Jumborn
Release date: November 20, 2023
H.R.H. Princess Chakri Sirindhorn
Release date: November 27, 2023
140th Anniversary of Thai Stamp
2nd set in 2nd series
Release date: November 27, 2023
December
Year of the Dragon – Lunar New Year 2024
Release date: December 1, 2023
National Day 2023
Release date: December 5, 2023
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