King Rama V - Series 2 Definitive Stamps - 2 Atts on 3 Atts
It would appear that the wholesale using up of the 2 atts for 1 Att stamps depleted the stock of the former, and to provide stamps of the 2 atts denomination, which began to be extensively used for newspapers and printed matter to China and the Straits Settlements, the quantities of the 3 atts stamps had to be converted by the same process of overprinting into 2 atts ones in 1890 and 1891. The overprint, which is in black, has the value expressed in native characters and an Arabic numeral 2, and there are six varieties of the black impression.
It is interesting to note that the colors of these stamps are especially sensitive to water, so that fresh colors of used stamps are rare and expensive. There are three types known which differ in the size of the "2". Issue of January 1st, 1891 Stamps No.28 & No.29 In 1891, the 3 atts (green and blue) was surcharged with the numeral “2” both in Thai and English with the word “at” in Thai between them. Two types of surcharged handstamps with metal letters were used in January by the Post and Telegraph Department in Bangkok. The stamp impression was made in one go. The total number printed of all 4 types (No. 28, No.29, No. 31 and No. 32) was 21,200. No. 28 Sub-Type I: Large figure "2" which has a straight foot with a slight upstroke at the end. The subtypes of this stamp are:
No. 29 Sub-Type II: Narrow figure "2" without upstroke to foot. The sub-types are:
Issue of March 1891
Stamps No.31, No.32 and No.33 In March, 1991 additional 3 atts stamps surcharged with 2 atts were issued. The 3 atts was surcharged in black with the number “2” both in Thai and Arabic with the word “Att” in Thai between them. These were produced using typeset rather than the handstamps and the resultant impressions are far finer. This enabled entire sheets to be overprinted at one time. The surcharges were in two types by the Post and Telegraph Department in Bangkok. In all instances of Type 1 (small “2”), the “2” has a ball in the loop and the numeral is at least 4 mm high. No.31: The “Mai Han Aakaad” accent is horizontal. (Type 1) No.32: The “Mai Han Aakaad” accent is horizontal. (Type 2)
There are differences in the English numerals for each stamp, too:
· Sub-Type A: Well rounded "2" with prominent upstroke · Sub-Type B: Right hand side of "2" flat, short food, defined upstroke · Sub-Type C: As subtype I, but practically no upstroke · Sub-Type D: As subtype II, but broken at base which is rough No. 33:
Stamp No. 33 looks similar to the number 32 stamp, but the difference is in the number "2". There is no ball on the loop and the numeral is 3.3 mm high as opposed to 4 mm and of equal thickness in all parts. Issue: February 1991 Stamp No.30: 2 Atts on 1 Att on 3 Atts This iconic stamp was printed and edited by: Bangkok Post and Telegraph Department. Due to the urgent shortage of 2 atts, the Post and Telegraph Department took the No.26 stamp which had previously surcharged 1 Att on 3 atts and additionally overprinted with Arabic and Thai numbers “2” for late editing. Before overprinting, an attempt had been made to erase the original Thai number “1” but the printers realized that correcting the price of this stamp made it difficult to read. The stamp was confusing to use and it took time to fix. This is why after a while the correction was discontinued, which is another reason for the rarity of this stamp. |