It is common belief that the first stamps issued in Thailand, then called Siam, was the 'Solot Set' of 1883 (see my Stamp Guide 'The First Stamps of Thailand') Before and during the issue period of that set, however, there were other local stamps in use. The Bhanurangsi Adhesive stamps of 1875-76, stamps of India, Hong Kong and Straits Settlements overprinted with the letter "B" at the British Consulate Post Office in Bangkok 1857-75, and the Rajakumar School Post 1888-93. Very few of these stamps are listed in the popular stamp catalogues, Scott, Stanley Gibbons, or the Thai Catalogue by Sakserm. These stamps are the subject of this short guide.

Bhanurangsi Adhesive stamps of 1875-76

In September of 1875 Prince Bhanurangsi with the help of 10 other young princes organized the editorial of a daily newspaper, the 'Court', later renamed the 'Official News'.
Initially these papers were picked up or delivered by hand to the subscribers houses every day. Subsequently he printed the newspapers adhesive stamps, he called the 'Stamp Tickets' with perforations so that they could be torn from the sheets individually. They sold for 1 att each. This 'Stamp Ticket' could be called the first local postage stamp of Siam and was the origin of the first local post in Bangkok.
These stamps were affixed to the newspaper as well as on any letters carried by the postman as an additional service carried out for the subscribers.

Prince Bhanurangsi's stamp tickets had 2 different designs:
Type 1: The design was copied from the illustration on the top of the first issue of the newspaper. There were several sizes of stamps and the perforations were rather crude. In the middle an oval frame surrounding a portrait of the prince and the words "Rising P" beneath.
Type 2: This was a modified version of Type 1 stamp. The profile was changed and the words "one att" in Thai script were added above the image and the words "Payment for Delivery" beneath and the letters "B" and "P" to either side.

Both types of stamps were issued in a variety of colors, light or dark red on yellowish or creamy paper. Brown or green on white paper. The stamps were canceled by signing initials in black fountain pen ink, handstamped with bulls eye design in black ink, or hand stamped in black circular design with Chinese Characters in the middle.

Nowadays these stamps are rare and expensive but can be seen in eBay auctions from time to time.

Various examples of the 'Rising P' or 'Bhanurangsi' local post stamps of 1875-76

The British Consulate Post Office

In 1856 Diplomatic Relations with England were established which opened mail services between Siam and foreign countries. In the beginning stamps of India were used for postal charges. Later on, in 1886 Straits Settlements and Hong Kong stamps were affixed to postal items instead. The letter "B" was usually, but not always, overprinted on the stamp to mean 'Bangkok'.
The postal items sent from the British Consulate in bangkok were transmitted sailing to Singapore or Hong Kong. Initially there was no date-stamped cancel postmark. These stamps were cancelled in Singapore with either a Spider-web like octagon, chessboard hand stamp or the ships name cachet. later the British Consulate in a postmark bearing the BRitish Royal Coat of Arms with the letters "British Consulate Bangkok". Letters from the American Consulate bore the letters "U.S. Legation Bangkok".
Some of these stamps are listed in the popular stamp catalogues, but not all. There are numerous good forgeries and so collectors need to be careful when purchasing these stamps. If there is any irregularity or imperfection in the formation of the letter "B" when viewed under powerful magnification be especially wary.

Various samples of the British Consulate PO bangkok issues stamps

The Royal Family Post

During the reign of King Rama V there was a set of stamps issued withthe palace which pictured the King, his Queen and also many other members of the Royal Family. One stamp was required for delivery within the city wall limits and two stamps were required for delivery outside the city walls. Not many of these stamps exist today, and those that do are very expensive.

Examples of the Royal Family Stamps of King Rama V

Rajakumar School Post

There is a rare and expensive set of postage stamps of Siam which are known to stamp collectors as the 'Rajakumar School Set'. It is postulated thar these stamps were used in the Rajakumar School between 1888-93. These stamps were teaching tools used to demonstrate postal communications, and they were used by a western teacher in the Grand Palace. The stamps were affixed to letters between students and between teachers and parents and can be considered to be local postage stamps of Siam.

Examples of the  Rajakumar School local postage stamps and a letter addressed to the Head Master Mr. Robert Morant

The Dusit Thani Issue

.The creator of the Dusit Thani Democracy Model City was King Vajiravudh who ruled Siam from 1910-25. As a student in England while his father King Chualongkorn still reigned, the young prince became imbued with democratic ideals. Soon after he assumed the throne in 1911, King Vajiravudh  turned to the West for ideas with which to carry on the modernizations begun by his father and grandfather.
One of his most unusual initiatives was the creation in 1918 of Dusit Thani. Named after the fourth of six levels of the Buddhist heaven, it was designed as an exercise in model city planning and administration.
Dusit Thani's primary purpose was to demonstrate how a democratic government functioned. Vajiravudh's death in 1925 halted his endeavours and the project never reached maturity.

The 'Dusit Thani' issue were used for local post in the Dusit Thani Democracy Model City

Acknowledgements: 'Chronicles of Thai Postage Stamps' by K. Piat Choovoravech. This excelent book is a must for all serious collectors of Thai stamps.