Happy Chinese New Year 2008 Thai Postage Stamp

Stamp Name : Chinese New Year 2008
Country : Thailand, Thai Postage Stamp
Date of Issue : 1 February 2008

The Chinese New Year has the highlighted celebration 3 days to performs with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors, the sacrifice to the ancestors, the most vital of tall the rituals, united the living members with those who has passed away, and the presence of the ancestors, is acknowledged on New Year's Eve. Each shrine will have a lion dance troupe as a symbolic ritual to usher in the Lunar New Year as well as to evict bad spirits from the premises.

During the Chinese New Year, the Chinese will greet each other with Sin Jiun Yu Yi Sin Ni Huad Jai (Chao Zhou Dialect) or Sin Jen Ru Yi Sin Nian Fa Chai (Mandarin) that means good luck, wealthy for the new year. The others will reply with Tang Tang Yu Ee which means good luck to you too.

Another symbol of this tradition is also "red envelop" or Tae Ear which all the children will be received as gift from adult. Tae Ear means binding on waist. During the ancient time, the meney had hole in the middle, when received they had to bind together with the red thread and to bind on waist. After that there was no hole on the money, and then it chanced to use the red envelope instead and called "Any Pao".

Source: Thai Stamp Bulletin, Issue 1, Vol. 2008.

more

National Children's Day 2008 Commemorative Stamps

Stamp Name : National Children's Day 2008 Commemorative Stamps
Country : Thailand
Date of Issue : 12 January 2008
Denomination : 3.00 Baht (5 designs)
Quantity : 900,000 pieces per design
Size : 48 x 30 mm. (Horizontal-measured from perforation to perforation)
Designer :
3.00 Baht Design 1 - Kemtis Kumsrijan
3.00 Baht Design 2 - Natapol Saelim
3.00 Baht Design 3 - Sirada Chokeyangkul
3.00 Baht Design 4 - Salinthip Narongpun
3.00 Baht Design 5 - Amornthep Jitnak
Printer : Thai British Security Printing PCL.
Printing Process : Lithography
Colour : Milti-colour
Sheet Composition : 20 stamps per sheet (4 strips of 5)
First Day Cover : 25.00 Baht
Designer : Thaneth Ponchaiwong (Thailand Post Co., Ltd.)

Story of the National Children's Day 2008 Commemorative Thai Stamps

To Preserve Fine Art and Thai Tradition

The Postage Stamp of Children's Day of Year 2008 for 5 selections which are awarded in the 20th Asian International Stamp Exhibition (BANGKOK 2007) Postage Stamp Painting Competition. Fine Art Filling for Thailand Project by Mr.Chalermchai Kosipipat, the first visual arts honoree for the inaugural Silpathorn Award, and Mr.Apichai Piromrak, a Sculpture and lothography artist, Silpakorn University to be honorable commitee for this competition.

Walk on high stilts or Kok-kek is a toy in suburb, Kok-kek is made of 2 stilts. The player has to balance his stand on a cock's spur of each stilt, to use hands to hold each stilt, and ready for step by step for left and right. This has use the walking and running for the competition.

Kiting flying - Thai person know how to flying kite since an old time. Kiting flying is th egame which needs the competent, astuteness in order to compete the wind flowing or so called "dtit lom bon" (to be floated on the upper wind). This game is for entertainment and also for competition.

A Puppet show (or Hun Krabok) is one of the fine art shows which have people to raise the made puppet. The head till neck is made the sculptured wood in order to imitate the real person. The body of the puppet is made from bamboo and to be worn with the cylinder shirt with no sleeves that embroider with silver thread, golden thread, and sequins braided, similar to Kohn.

Candel Buddhish Lent (or Thien Phansa) has been starting since the buddisht ancient time. The buddist will bring the big and loger candle to provide to the Buddhist priest for lighting the Buddhist Lent period. At the beginning by bringing a lot of small candles and binding together to be the stem and attached on the base. Later it developoed to mold all the small candles to be one and had the beautifyl sculpture on it.

The mysterious principle (or Kwan Khao). Thai people believe that in the rice plant has the soul called "mae Phosop" or Mae Kwan Khao. So they have the rite in order to please Mae Phosop and also to convey the gratefulness to rice. This will have 4 times rite: the plowing and the rice planning time, setting up an ear of paddy time, harvest and rice carrying time, and carrying to barn.

Source: Thai Stamp Bulletin, Issue 1, Vol. 2008, Page 6-7.

more

Zodiac Postage Stamp

Stamp Name : Zodiac Postage Stamp
Country : Thailand
Date of Issue : 1 January 2008
Quantity : 1,000,000 pieces
Size : 28 x 28 mm.
Designer : Attasart Tularak
Printer : Thai British Security Printing Public Company Limited, Thailand
Printing Process : lithography
Colure : Multi-colour
Sheet Composition : 20 stamps per sheet
Souvenir Sheet : 30.00 Baht
First Day Cover : 10.00 Baht
Designer : Udorn Niyomthum (Thailand Post Co., Ltd.)

Year of Mouse is the first 12-year cycle of animals referred to as the Chinese zodiac. According to the legend believed that rat was the first animal which watched the body of Load Buddha by catching on ox's back. However rat jumped down so that he could reach before the ox.

Due to the size, rat is very deft to escape the risk and also very clever to adapt itself to all environments. Rat also has very quickly of hearing, it could alert others for, also could persuade friends to seek for food. The major of its organ are teeth which are very strong and sharp.

The person who born in year of rat, the legend tells that this will have absolute speech, arrogant talking, going in any direction will receive welcome, could not work in details. However, this person is very persistent but irresolute. Rat person has enough knowledge for living and also loves to travel around.

Source: Thai Stamp Bulletin, Issue 1, Vol. 2008

more

Postage Stamps Articles : The Benefits of being able to Print Postage at Home Author: Craig Thornburrow

The United States Postal Service or USPS has listened to its customers and realized the need for more convenience in postage. Giving people the option to print postage in their own home has led to a booming market for online postage companies. Besides the USPS website, there are many other authorized companies that sell online postage. Giving people the ability to print postage from their own computer has really revolutionized the world of postage.

The USPS is the best known place for getting postage. In the high tech world we live in where everyone is online and every business has a website, the USPS has capitalized on this to start something new in postage. Online postage is where a customer can buy and print postage from their own computer. This eliminates the need to go to the post office or store to buy stamps. It is simple enough that anyone can do it and requires only a computer and printer - no special equipment.

Before the USPS offered the ability to print postage from online sources the only way to print postage was through a postage meter. These meters were like a scale and printer combined. Mostly for use in businesses, meters weigh the mail and then print a postage label. These meters are still available, but usually only used by businesses due to the cost of having one. If a person does not use a certain amount of postage the rental fees can be too needless of a cost. With online postage a person only prints what they need without having to rent equipment.

Having the ability to print postage allows individuals convenience at their fingertips. In the busy world of today convenience is always welcomed. Many people have found online postage to be incredible useful. In fact, there are hundreds of people that print postage from their own computer everyday.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/direct-mail-articles/the-benefits-of-being-able-to-print-postage-at-home-35888.html

more

Buy US Postage Stamps Online Author: Lloyd Lewis

For those interested in large quantities of mail, the Internet is offering today great opportunities to buy US Postage Stamps Online at higher volumes and special cost-effective prices.

In order to buy US Postage Stamps Online you must enter one of the many websites that allow users to select their postage stamps and print them from their own computer, no matter the location around the world.

There is a small monthly fee that makes this very new mail service, Buy US Postage stamps Online, more convenient for all industry users.

More than that, when shopping online, user have the special opportunity to buy extraordinary specialty stamps that usually are not available at any post office.

The online services let users print official United States Postal Service postage directly from their own personal computer. All they need is a good printer and special piece of hardware for a business, provided by your buy us Postage Stamps online provider.

You select your postage stamp, print it and put it on the mail package. After that, you have to simply hand it to the mail carrier and your mail is on the way.

This easy procedure and the significant low fees have brought more and more customers to postage stamps websites.

They are satisfied by the easy to follow procedures and the extra options available, such as printing shipping labels or professional looking mail envelopes.

Some websites offer special insurance for their users in order to protect their valuable items. In other cases, the free delivery confirmation allows you to easily keep track of sent mail.

Other common features permit easy tracking of postage spent with client codes and easy reporting. It seems that nothing is impossible with the new online mail services and more and more customers are attracted by them

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/direct-mail-articles/buy-us-postage-stamps-online-866.html

more

Postage Stamps Articles : Where To Find Information on Postage Stamps by Mike Selvon

For online information on postage stamps, hobbyists can check catalogs like Scott's, societies like the American Philatelic Society, authentication centers like the Postal Stamp Experts, or buying and selling auctions like eBay. The best way to further your love of stamp collecting is to immerse yourself by taking advantage of every possible resource available. Read on for some noteworthy suggestions on how to get started.

The first stop for serious stamp collectors who are looking to buy or sell should be a catalogue. The most popular reference guide is the Scott's Catalogue, but Stanley Gibbons, Minkus and the US Postal Service Catalogue of Stamps also make great resources.

You can check out Scott Online site for the internet version of the Scott's Catalogue. The internet version is available ten days prior to the print version and is emailed directly to you.

Searching options go back three issues of Scott Stamp Monthly to help you to find what you're looking for and you'll be able to connect with advertisers immediately, instead of having to phone or mail them with your inquiries. Subscribers can also customize their online edition by picking which columns they'd like listed first in their issues and by choosing "Text" or "Newspaper" format for easy reading. Separate Print and online magazine subscriptions are available.

The second stop on your way to entrenching yourself in the philatelic community and obtaining information is to check out The American Philatelic Society . Here you can browse over 270,613 items and search by country, type, keywords, Scott Catalogue number, country and its type, country and keyword, its type and keyword, or Stamp ID number.

You needn't be a member to browse, but if you'd like to purchase them or get personal stamp information, you must become a member. Additionally, APS encourages members to get more involved in the philatelic community by listing activities and has a mentor program to answer all your collecting questions directly.

You may want to find the exact worth on postage stamps -- or if you want to sell an expensive stamp, you'll need a certificate of authenticity. The APS offers an "expertizing service" utilizing high-tech equipment and over 140 specialists. They charge $25 on stamps worth under $1,000 or 2% of higher value stamps.

The next place to check for information is eBay and Craigslist, where buyers and sellers meet to trade. For an advanced and exhaustive international database, try eBay. On the other hand, Craigslist is a localized site connecting individuals.

There are pros and cons to all online trading sites, but sometimes it's just enjoyable to browse what's offered. Generally it's an inexpensive way to bolster your collection or a good way to find that rare stamp.

King George V was a renowned stamp collector. He once remarked as he appointed an Official Philatelist to the King, "But, remember, I wish to have the best collection, not just one of the best collections in England." It was found in a letter by Sir Harold Nicholson, that for seventeen years King George V locked himself up and only "killed animals and stuck in stamps."

Whether you're certifiably crazy about stamps or you'd just like some more information on postage stamps, there are a number of resources to obtain that perfect collection that even King George V would have envied.

About the Author
Mike Selvon has some great stamp collecting articles for the hobbist, where you can find out more on postage stamps. We appreciate your feedback at our stamp collecting values blog.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=693093

more

Postage Stamps Articles : The History of United States Postage Stamps by Mike Selvon

With the largest motorized fleet in the US, the postal service has come a long way since the meager pony express. Collectors of colonial stamps are generally handsomely rewarded for their hawk's eye, as some of these stamps can go for $2 to $3 Million new! Read on to learn more about the fascinating history of United States postage stamps.

While the pony express had been delivering letters for over fifty years, the first American postal service was formally granted by King William and Queen Mary in 1692. The American Revolution was fought to ensure that there was "no taxation without representation," thus paving the way for US postage stamps.

Benjamin Franklin was one of the first postmasters and created the United States Postal Service as we know it, in Philadelphia 1775. Early postal symbols ranged from the Roman god Mercury to a running pony to the modern day eagle.

Some of the most coveted United States postage stamps are the crude provisional stamps used by early postmasters from 1845 to 1846 before the Stamp Act was legislated. Many postmasters charged whatever they felt like and the quality is naturally poor on these old relics. Nevertheless, keep an eye out for provisional stamps from Providence, RI, Alexandria, VA, or even Baltimore, MD (featuring the signature of James Buchanan, before he became president). An unused 1846 Millbury Massachusetts featuring George Washington recently sold for $130,000!

The 5-cent red brown Benjamin Franklin was the first of the official ones for sale in New York City and Boston. The second was the 10-cent black George Washington (which currently sells for around $1,400 used and $28,000 unused)!

Stamp values decreased over the next few years and remained stable for nearly a century. Blue 1-cent Ben Franklins became a collector favorite when production errors led to new, noticeable plate variations in the prints. These innovative stamps can range from $100 to $200,000 in collection circles.

The Civil War had the North issuing 1,750,000,000 copies of the rose-colored 3¢ United States postage stamps, which have survived to present day and sell for $2-$3 a piece. However, certain accidental variations (found in "pigeon blood pink") can sell for $3,000 and up. During the Civil War, Southern towns put out some of their own crude stamps (like Athens, Georgia or Jetersville, Virginia or Knoxville, Tennessee -- to name a few). Confederate "Rebel" provisional stamps can go for $1,000 to $15,000 these days.

From the 1860s - 1870s, ten styles of "grills" were designed to emboss used ones and combat illegal stamp reuse. One cent "Z-Grill" US postage stamps from 1868 recently sold for $935,000 to stamp dealers. Later, one of the Z-Grills was traded for a block of Inverted Jenny stamps (worth $3 million).

In 1893, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's landing in the America, they were issued, depicting some of Columbus's high seas adventures, some for as much as $5 (which was a LOT in 1893!). Today, these colorful collectibles sell for $1,500 to $12,500, depending on the condition.

Generally, the ones issued after 1900 aren't worth a whole lot on the market yet. However, during the Great Depression, most people could no longer spend their money on stamps and less than 8% of those issued during that time were sold, so they remain the smallest U.S. issue of the 20th century.

Today, the post office faces many challenges, from the widespread use of the internet and cell phones to send messages, as well as competition from Fed Ex and UPS. However, the stamp collecting market is not likely to disappear. There are so many people who appreciate the art and history behind these little artifacts that there will always be someone looking for postage stamps, notably United States postage stamps.

About the Author
Mike Selvon has some great stamp collecting articles for the hobbist, where you can find out more tips on the United States postage stamps. We appreciate your feedback at our stamp collecting values blog.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=706502

more

Postage Stamps Articles : Promoting Your With Personalized Stamps by Zachary Thompson

Did you know that you can promote your wellness business with personalized stamps? Personalized stamps are great fun to use. Even though many people pay their bills online, there are often bills that we mail on a monthly basis. Why not take advantage of your regular mail to be able to promote your wellness business with personalized stamps? Personalized stamps are a terrific marketing tool to use.

Right at your mailbox is a great marketing tool that many people do not think about. Stop for a moment and think about all the people that end up looking at your mail to get it from your mailbox to the company that you're paying a bill to or someone you are writing a letter to. There will be a minimum of three to five people that will handle that one envelope. Picture this; the envelope has your wellness website address and logo on it. People are naturally curious. Chances are that a few people are going to write down that address and visit it. As you know, once they come to your wellness website, the products and services virtually sell themselves.

The starting point is to create a company logo that looks good when it is small. You want a logo that is not full a lot of detail because the details will not show up well on the small area. You should also select a logo that has bright colors. Red is good because it automatically grabs people's attention and gets them to stop. Selecting your wellness business logo is important for using personalized stamps for promotion.

Next, you will should go on the internet and find a company that will let you upload your logo and web address for your personalized stamps. Many companies are available and offer some terrific prices. The expense is well worth getting the additional advertising and marketing your wellness home business. Upload your wellness home business logo and web address and order your personalized stamps.

What types of mail should you place the personalized stamps? Everything that you mail should have the stamp. It is a good idea to send a thank you card to customers for their orders. This will increase the chances of repeat sales. You can even have customized personal stamps that are postage rate for post cards. You can hand write a thank you note on an index card and send it to your customer with the personalized stamp.

If you mail volume is low, you might get co-workers, friends and relatives to agree to use the stamps. You only charge them the actual postage fee and not the personalization fee. Many people do not think about or care what stamps they use as long as they are getting their stuff mailed. Personalized postage stamps are is remarkable marketing tools for letting people know that you have a small wellness home business. The response that you will get with increased traffic might truly surprise you. Traffic means that you will have increased sales and sales mean that you will have a larger customer base of repeat customers.

About the Author
Zach Thompson is a 23 year-old network marketer & marketing consultant. Why Residual Income?

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=739183

more

Postage Stamp Articles : How To Collect Stamps Today by Larry Stepanowicz

It might not be as popular a hobby as it once was, but a lot of people still collect stamps, today. From my own experience, those who enjoy this quiet but satisfying hobby are not apt to talk about it much, except when in the company of other stamp collectors.

What's the attraction in collecting stamps?

For me, as an eight-year-old, it was a mixture of geography, color, novelty, order, and fun. It was also a chance to work on my collection along side my father who got me started and passed his duplicates along to me. He's gone, but that's something I still remember, today.

Stamp collecting is also a relaxing hobby that can soothe a troubling day. There is something almost therapeutic about sorting through a group of stamps, and it's very pleasurable to find and place needed items into an album and to watch your collection grow.

At one time, stamp shops that sold stamps and philatelic supplies to collectors were everywhere. Even Macy's and Gimbles had stamp departments. I can remember going into Woolworth's, say in the 1950's and 1960's and purchasing packets of stamps, usually colorful and exotic stamps, for my collection.

My grandparents even took to saving stamps for me, and my grandmother who worked at an office building downtown, faithfully brought back the stamps she salvaged from incoming mail for many years. There were also magazines that advertised pen pals, and I exchanged letters and stamps with a boy in Korea who was about my age and also a stamp collector. And mail order stamp companies selling "stamps on approval" advertised everywhere from match books to comic books. And once you passed the beginner stage, joining a stamp exchange was a way to trade your duplicates with other members, using the mail.

Today, with email, low long distance rates, and metered postage being used instead of stamps, even recent U.S. commemorative stamps are hard to find unless you buy them mint, as they are issued, at the post office.

Publishers like White Ace still offer album pages for U.S. commemoratives stamps, if collecting stamps bought at the post office appeals to you. But doing this may not be as relaxing or satisfying as putting together an old fashioned international collection in a world-wide album.

If you're new to the hobby, beginning with a general world-wide collection can be a good way to go. Not only will it give you an overview of the hobby, you might find that you have a special interest in stamps from a country or two, or from a certain part of the world, or from a certain point in time, or even stamps that feature specific subject matter. The latter are called topicals, and are widely collected.

There may not be as many stamps on the mail as there once were, but that doesn't mean that collectible stamps aren't out there. It just means having to find them -- or finding sources for them.

Unless you carried on a wide-ranging foreign correspondence, collecting stamps from the mail never was much fun, anyway. In fact there are more stamps out there today than there ever were. The growth in quantity is cumulative. Not only are more stamps issued throughout the world, but once in the hands of collectors, stamps are seldom lost, except possibly in a flood or fire.

Over time, most stamps will resurface somewhere because most people who come across an old stamp collection left behind by a loved-one tend to think it might be worth something, no matter how poor or basic it is, and will not throw it away but look for a way to dispose of it if only by giving it to a thrift shop.

Today, a lot of stamps that were collected during what might have been stamp collecting's high point, say just before WWII through Vietnam, continue to fill the market with older and interesting material. Much of it is available through auctions as well as through dealers who advertise in the philatelic press or offer their holdings online. The Modern-Vue Stamp Store, for example, is a good place to look for "philatelic treasure" online. And if you check your phone book, you may still find a stamp shop or stamp dealer in your area.

Where you take your collection will depend on where you want to go with your hobby. For those with the interest and the means, or with investment in mind, the more valuable stamps can be found in printed catalogs from philatelic auction houses, but the more plentiful and less expensive items can be a lot of fun, too, especially if you have an album in which to place them.

About the Author
Larry Stepanowicz is a long-time stamp hobbyist and philatelic trader. You can find more of his articles on stamp collecting at The Modern-Vue Stamp Store, a gateway for finding collectible stamps and philatelic treasures, online. His blog, Stamp Talk features collecting commentary.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=757337

more

Postage Stamp Articles : The US Postage Stamps - Legends of Hollywood Series by David L Stargel

Legends of Hollywood Series

The Legend of Hollywood stamp series was created to honor popular film stars and give potential stamp collectors a fun series to get started with. Started in 1994 with Marilyn Monroe, the latest stamp issued is Bette Davis, who will make the 14th addition to this popular line of stamps. This series is one of the most exciting and colorful that has been issued. Each stamp has been popular and has sold very well.


The very first stamp of the series featured the ever popular Marilyn Monroe. Her stamp was, and continues to be, very popular thanks to her sultry image and interesting lifestyle. She was an accomplished actress and beautiful model who took the world by storm. Her death left many saddened and one cannot think of Hollywood legends without Marilyn Monroe coming to mind. Her stamps have held their value well and to a Marilyn Monroe fan, may be worth more than the actual postage value.


After the Marilyn Monroe stamp was issued in 1995, each year another stamp was added to the series and made available to the public. Ms. Monroe was followed by James Dean, Humphrey Bogart, Alfred Hitchcock, James Cagney, Edward G. Robinson, and Lucille Ball. Lucille Balls stamp in 2001 was the first Legends of Hollywood stamp to be issued as a self adhesive.


2002 saw the release of the Cary Grant stamp which was followed by Audrey Hepburn, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Judy Garland, Jimmy Stewart, and the latest, Bette Davis. The Bette Davis stamps will be released in 2008, making her the 14th addition to this line of extremely popular stamps. She was an incredible film star who made many movies. She was well known for her dramatic, beautiful eyes which captivated audiences worldwide.


Some of the people chosen for the stamps were good people who did a lot for the communities around them such as Audrey Hepburn. Others were known for their tough personas and no nonsense attitudes, like Bette Davis. Regardless, all of these people were excellent film stars and they provided the world with great movies for past, present, and generations to come.

About the Author
David Stargel is the owner of several web businesses and enjoys writing articles about how history and the present both affect the business world. He has 27 years of experience in business marketing and sales. Get more information regarding us postage stamps.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=834684

more

U.S. Stamps : Postage Stamps of the United States First Issued in 1847

President: James K. Polk Postmaster General: Cave Johnson

Postage Rates from July 1, 1847 - June 30, 1851
Domestic Letter Rate under 300 mi. per 1/2 oz.: Five Cents ท over 300 mi. per 1/2 oz.: Ten Cents
Domestic letter to Pacific Coast (California) per 1/2 oz.: Forty Cents
Between all Places of the Pacific Coast per 1/2 oz.: 12.5ข (effective Aug. 14, 1848)
Drop Letter Rate: 2ข - A Drop Letter is a letter that is dropped off and picked up at the same post office

Printed By the Rawdon, Wright, Hatch, and Edson Bank Note Company of New York City
These stamps were demonetized, that is no longer valid for postage, as of July 1, 1851
Imperforate ท 200 subject plates in 2 Panes of 100 in a 10x10 format
Designer: J. P. Major - Engraver: A. B. Durant

The First Regular Issues of the U.S. - Scott's 1 and 2 by Bob Allen

The Five and Ten Cent stamps of 1847 were the first adhesive postage stamps authorized for issue by the U.S. Post Office Department, in response to a law passed on March 3, 1847. The law was to take effect on July 1, 1847 and made illegal the use of postage stamps not authorized by the Postmaster General. It is something of a surprise that no two-cent stamp was issued, since two cents was the rate for drop letters, letters that were dropped off (mailed from) and picked up (delivered to) at the same Post Office.

Although the first stamps were supposed to be made available to the public by July 1, only the New York City Post Office received any stamps by that day, followed by Boston a day later, on July 2.

Covers with July 1847 dates are exceptionally rare and much sought after by collectors. The five-cent stamp paid for domestic letters within a 300 mile radius of the post office from which it was sent, and the ten-cent stamp for anything beyond that.

Many of the pre-July 1, 1847 stamps, known to collectors as carriers, locals and provisionals, are items of great philatelic importance, but they are not covered here since they were not issued by authority of the U.S. Post Office Department. An excellent starting point to this fascinating subject may be found on the Carriers and Locals Society web site.

The requirement to prepay the postage was not part of this new law, and many letters were sent as they always had been, without stamps. It was expected that the person who received the letter would pay the fee. Drop letters would of course fall in this category, since there was no provision for a two-cent stamp. We would also like to recommend the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society (the USPCS) web site for more on the fascinating subject of stampless letters.

It must be pointed out that a great many of the letters of the day were sent stampless, that is without pre-payment. In fact, Carroll Chase estimated that only about one letter in fifty actually bore one of the 1847 Issue stamps and the rest were to be paid on delivery. As can be imagined, there was some abuse when letters were distributed without pre-payment. Often a coded message was placed on the outside of a letter, and the recipient did not need to open the letter to determine its intent, leaving the mail carrier unpaid for his efforts. This abuse was curtailed somewhat in 1851 when the fee for a prepaid letter was dropped to three cents, meaning there was a two cent penalty for stampless letters, which still cost the addressee five cents. Finally, in 1855, it was required that all letters be prepaid and it has remained that way since.

The New York City bank note engraving firm of Rawdon, Wright, Hatch, and Edson were given a four year contract to print the first American postage stamps. The initials: "RWH&E" are clearly engraved at the bottom of both stamps. The firm did not come up with new designs for these important stamps, rather the engravings have been attributed to the portrait engraver Asher Brown Durand. According to Brazer, the identical Durand engraving of Franklin on the five-cent stamp, Scott #1, had appeared on a $2.00 bank note of the Chemical Bank of New York, and the identical Durand engraving of Washington on the ten-cent stamp, Scott #2, had appeared on a $5.00 bank note of the Fairfield County Bank (Connecticut). It is quite likely that the vignettes from the dies used to make these bank notes were used to make the dies for the new stamp designs.

Often overlooked is that these two stamps were originally proposed as bi-color stamps. In early submissions RWH&E suggested that the denominations be overprinted in red ink as a security measure, a common method of thwarting counterfeiters of paper money at the time, but the cost proved to be too high and the stamps were issued in the colors we know today, the five-cent in various shades of brown and the ten-cent in black.

In 1851, when the contract with Rawdon, Wright, Hatch, and Edson came to an end, the government solicited bids for the next series of stamps. At the same time they demonetized the stamps of 1847. After July 1, 1851, the first two U.S. stamps were no longer valid for postage. This has happened only one other time since, in 1861, when the Civil War required the Union to issue a new set of stamps to thwart the delivery of Confederate letters. All U.S. stamps since 1861 are still valid for use to pay the postage necessary to deliver a letter in the U.S.

There is some confusion as to whether more than one plate was used to print the five-cent stamp. Elliott Perry of "Pat Paragraphs" fame accomplished a major feat in U.S. philately by plating the ten-cent stamp and thereby proving that only one plate of 200 subjects of the ten-cent had ever existed.

One of the greatest American philatelists, Stanley Ashbrook, claimed that plating the five-cent stamp might prove impossible, since many of the printings are indistinct. It might seem strange that nearly every ten-cent stamp is sharp and crisply printed, while many of the five-cent stamps appear dull, muddy, and anything but sharp. Part of the problem is thought to be the poor quality of the brown ink used to print the stamps, or perhaps the way the ink was handled. Still, with the advent of the Internet and the ability to share crisp clean images from today's high quality scanners, the possibility of plating the five-cent stamp might come back within the realm of possibility, should a group of motivated researchers pool their resources. Perhaps the debate as to whether there was a "later" plate of the five-cent stamp may be put to rest, just as Perry did with the ten-cent stamp.

The five-cent stamp provides collectors with a fascinating variety of shades, running the gamut of pale brown to a very dark brown (nearly black), from red browns to a bright orange brown, from olive browns to violet browns, and even a full orange, reported by Chase. A worthwhile and well-thought six-part treatise on the subject of color varieties on the 1847 five-cent stamp, written by Calvet M. Hahn, has been made available on the Internet through the New York Chapter of the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society.

There is some confusion as to whether RWH&E destroyed all the dies and plates used to print these stamps. At any rate, in 1875, when the Re-Issues of all of the previous U.S. stamps were made, new dies needed to be created for the five- and ten-cent stamps of 1847. These "Special Printings" or "Reproductions" are readily distinguished from the regularly printed stamps. It is perhaps unfortunate that Scott assigned catalog numbers of #3 and #4 to these stamps, since they were never intended as postage stamps, and they certainly were not the third and fourth U.S. postage stamps.

Source: http://1847usa.com/identify/19th/1847.htm

more

Thai Postage Stamps : Stamps During the Period 1967-1976

During this decade, more stamps were issued in order to widen the stamp market. The size of stamps was also bigger than previous one. And it was in this decade that three British printing companies had bid for stamp printing against the printing bureau of the Japanese Government ,as a result ,some issues of stamps were printed in England by British printers, such as the Thomas de la Rue & Co.,Ltd., Bradbury Wilkinson Co.,Ltd. or the Harrison & Son Co.,Ltd. Apart from these printers, there were also two new printers from 2 other countries in Europe,entering into the bidding.They were Joh Enschde Compaany from the Netherlands , and the National Bank of Finland, both of which had been awarded the printing contract to print some issues.

Other spectacular issues of stamps, one should also know, include the 1967 Thai Fish Issue, the 1967 Thai Birds Issue, The 1967 Thai Orchids Issue, the 1967 Thai Architecture Issue,the 1968 Queen's 3rd Cycle Anniversary Commemorative Issue,the 1969 Thai Classical Dance Issue, the 1969 Thai Ceremonies Issue,the 1969 Thai Shadow Plays Issue, the 1970 Sixth Asian Games Commemorative Issue (1st Series),the 1970 Thai Heroic Deed Issue, the 1971 Buddhists Holy Places Commemorative Issue, the 1971 World Fellowship of Buddhists Commemorative Issue, the 1971 Thai Rural Life Commemorative Issue, the 1972 Precious Stones Issue, the 1972 Thai Fruits Issue, the 1973 Thai Handicraft Issue, the 1973 Protected Wild Animals Issue, (1st Series), the 1975 One Hundredth Anniversary of the National Museum Commemorative Issue, the 1975 Royal Barges Issue,the 1975 Eighth SEAP Games Issue (2nd Series) ,the 1976 Ban Chiang Pottery Issue, the 1976 Postman's Uniforms Issue, The 1976 Royal Throne Hall Issue.

The more prominent issue in this period should likely be the Forest Conservation Issue (1st Series), consisting of 8 denominations forming one set in the same way Bit does to the Royal Barges Issue consisting also of 8 denominations.

Source: http://www.thaistamp.com/

more

Thai Postage Stamps - Stamps During The Period 1957-1966.

Stamps produced during this decade consist of several issues, as the said period was dedicated to accelerating expeditious progress and development of Postal business.The administrative authority responsible for stamp-collecting promotion had set up the Philatelic Promotion Center in 1964, and had held the international Letter-Writing Week for the first time in 1959, resulting in the advent of a great number of stamp collectors, both young and old besides providing a means of living to a number of people, namely, the stamp dealers.

The first set of stamps, which is regarded by the stamp collectors as Thailand's first commemorative issue is that of the 25th Century of Buddhism Commemorative Issue. Stamps of this issue were released for sale on 10th May 1957. The stamps depict a Dharmachak and Deer ,consisting of 5 satang,10 satang, and 15 satang denominations, whereas stamps, portraying Lord Buddha's hand and the Dharmachak consist of 20 satang , 25 satang,and 50 satang denominations, the stamps portraying Phra Pathom Chedi Pagoda and Dharmachak's rays, are of 1 Baht,1.25 Baht,and 2 Baht denominations. All stamps of this issue marked the new era of stamp printing by the government printing Bureau, Ministry of Finance,Japan.

Since then,Thai stamps of all issue were printed in Japan until 1966,except for 3-4 issues thereof, which were printed in England. The reason for the increase of stamp printing in Japan during that time could probably be that the value of Japanese Yen was cheaper as compared to the values of any other foreign currencies. As such, Japan was seen to have won the biddings for stamp printing on several occasions, when more stamps were required.

Among the outstanding issues of stamp, the ones worthy of remembership, include the 1959 First SEAP Games commemorative Issue the Children's Day 1961 Commemorative Issue, the 1963 Eightieth Anniversary of the Post and Telegraph Department Commemorative issue, H.M.King Bhumipol's 36the Birthday Anniversary Commemorative issue, the 15th Royal Wedding Anniversary of Their Majesties the King and Queen Commemorative Issue, the 80th Anniversary of Thailand's Accession to the Universal Postal Union Commemorative Issue, and the 1966 Thai Sports Commemorative Issue. The latter issue consist of 4 denominations as follows: 50 satang denomination with boxing picture, 1 Baht denomination with takrow playing picture, 2 Baht denomination with kite fighting picture and 3 Baht denomination with picture of fencing play of sword and club.

Source: http://www.thaistamp.com/

more