King Rama V - Series 4 Definitive Stamps
Set of 16 stamps. Printed by Giesecke & Devrient, Leipzig. Issued in Oct. 1899. Watermarked: Chakri Cypher. Comb perf. 13½ x 14. Stamp size: 21 x 24.5 mm.
Issue of September 1st, 1899
Stamps No.78 to No.86
This stamp shows a portrait of King Chulalongkorn facing left in conventional frame. Stamps No.78-86 were issued in September 1899, while bicoloured stamps No. 87-98 were issued later on in January 1, 1903.
It was designed and surface printed by Giesecke and Devrient, Leipzig on thick woven paper; brown, yellowish to colourless gum. The full sheet contains 100 stamps. Comb perforated at 13 ½ x 14, unwatermarked. Size: 21 x 24.5 mm.
The issue consists of nine denominations, three of which were mono-coloured and the remainder bicolored. All values were printed in two operations from separate key and duty plates. This implies that there are at least four plates for these stamps. The spandrels in the upper corners and the octagonal tablets of value below are both in the second colour.
Issue of January 1st, 1904
Stamps No.87 to No.93
This new issue was required due to the depreciation in silver, which had lowered the value of the tical considerably since the foreign rate of postage had been fixed at 10 atts. In 1903, the foreign rate was raised to 14 atts. This necessitated the issuing of some new values and a readjustment of the colors of the old ones. The new set was printed by Giesecke and Devrient, Leipzig. Comb perforated at 13 ½ x 14, unwatermarked. Size: 21 x 24.5 mm.
The design, paper, gum and perforation are the same as the issue of 1899, but there is a change in the colors of the 2 atts, 3 atts and 4 atts stamps. In addition, new values were added for 6 atts, 14 atts and 28 atts. The mono-colored stamps, namely the 1 att, 3 att, 6 att and 14 att values were all printed from combined key and duty plates.
Stamps No.78 to No.86
This stamp shows a portrait of King Chulalongkorn facing left in conventional frame. Stamps No.78-86 were issued in September 1899, while bicoloured stamps No. 87-98 were issued later on in January 1, 1903.
It was designed and surface printed by Giesecke and Devrient, Leipzig on thick woven paper; brown, yellowish to colourless gum. The full sheet contains 100 stamps. Comb perforated at 13 ½ x 14, unwatermarked. Size: 21 x 24.5 mm.
The issue consists of nine denominations, three of which were mono-coloured and the remainder bicolored. All values were printed in two operations from separate key and duty plates. This implies that there are at least four plates for these stamps. The spandrels in the upper corners and the octagonal tablets of value below are both in the second colour.
Issue of January 1st, 1904
Stamps No.87 to No.93
This new issue was required due to the depreciation in silver, which had lowered the value of the tical considerably since the foreign rate of postage had been fixed at 10 atts. In 1903, the foreign rate was raised to 14 atts. This necessitated the issuing of some new values and a readjustment of the colors of the old ones. The new set was printed by Giesecke and Devrient, Leipzig. Comb perforated at 13 ½ x 14, unwatermarked. Size: 21 x 24.5 mm.
The design, paper, gum and perforation are the same as the issue of 1899, but there is a change in the colors of the 2 atts, 3 atts and 4 atts stamps. In addition, new values were added for 6 atts, 14 atts and 28 atts. The mono-colored stamps, namely the 1 att, 3 att, 6 att and 14 att values were all printed from combined key and duty plates.
Plates
As these stamps were printed in large volumes with frequent changes, they became worn or damaged, so new plates were needed. Four plates were made for printing and a totally new head die was designed especially for the 1 att and used from 1904. The various plates can be identified as follows:
- Plate 1: A single line on the collar and an eye of the needle in front of the shoulder button.
- Plate 2: Two lines on the collar and two lines in front of the shoulder button.
- Plate 3: Two lines on the collar and three lines in front of the shoulder button.
- Plate 4: A single line on the collar and three lines in front of the shoulder button.
Not all plates were printed for each value. For instance, there were three separate printings of 64 atts brown and orange-brown (No.86) and not four.
Plates by Denomination
Plate Collection
1 Att Die of 1904
When the second printing of 1904 took place to align the values with the new silver exchange rates, the 1 Att sage green stamp head die was also revisited. The two different 1 Att denominations can be easily identified by examining three key features:
Colour Shades
The "1 Att" value has been found in olive brown, the "2 Atts" value in blue and also in blue and green, and the "3 Atts" value in red and slate. Experts believe that all these are colour changelings, due to chemical or atmospheric action.
Fourth Series Surcharges
Set of 7 stamps. Issued from 1902 to 1909. These stamps are unwatermarked. Comb perforated 13½ x 14. Stamp size: 21 x 24.5 mm
Errors & Constant Varieties Look-up Table
96
Double surcharge
English "1" omitted
misplaced surcharge
stop omitted
small English "1" antique
first "t" (position G4)
antique second "t" (position AS)
mai han shifted right
mai han shifted left
97
surcharge double
misplaced surcharge
stop omitted (posit ion H9)
English portion is 1 3.5 m.m. long (normal is 12 m.m. )
antique first "t" (position G4)
antique second "t" (position AS)
mai han shifted right
mai han shifted left
pair, one without surcharge
119
Surcharge double
Surcharge inverted
narrow spacing between numerals (17 mm ,vertical row 10)
Error Hat for Att
Error on “9”
145
spaced " Sa tan g" (posit ion 11)
Error in the word “satang”
147
Double surcharge
Surcharge inverted
Double surcharge
English "1" omitted
misplaced surcharge
stop omitted
small English "1" antique
first "t" (position G4)
antique second "t" (position AS)
mai han shifted right
mai han shifted left
97
surcharge double
misplaced surcharge
stop omitted (posit ion H9)
English portion is 1 3.5 m.m. long (normal is 12 m.m. )
antique first "t" (position G4)
antique second "t" (position AS)
mai han shifted right
mai han shifted left
pair, one without surcharge
119
Surcharge double
Surcharge inverted
narrow spacing between numerals (17 mm ,vertical row 10)
Error Hat for Att
Error on “9”
145
spaced " Sa tan g" (posit ion 11)
Error in the word “satang”
147
Double surcharge
Surcharge inverted