Lot 628
Thailand 1855 royal letter to John Bowring, governor of Hong Kong
Stamps and Covers of Asia & the Middle East | S25009
Auction: 2 September 2025 at 11:00 BST
Description
Royal Letter: 1855 (27th March) long hand-written letter with golden border from King Mongkut, Rama IV to John Bowring, then Governor of Hong Kong. The letter details plans for Bowring's arrival in Bangkok and is full of praise for him and is signed off by the king “I remain your excellency's faithful friend", with small postscript about a she-Elephant acquired by the King which he wishes to show to Bowring. At the end of the postscript and letter there is the signature of the King as well as red royal handstamps. There is a vertical central crease with some splitting towards base, that in no way detracts from an extremely rare letter in public hands between two men that shaped the future of both Siam and the British Empire. A rare opportunity.
