- £95.00
Thailand. (Siam Steam Navigation Company - Postmarks). Circa 1909. SG 143, 6s carmine (pair) cancelled by large boxed 'S.S. "Mahidol" in blue and cancelled additionally with 'Bamboo' chops (2).
The 'S.S. "Mahidol" was built in 1908 for the 'Siam Steam Navigation Company' . The Company was formed as the 'Danish East Asiatic Company' in 1897. The Company had a steamer calling port to port from Bangkok down the Malay Peninsular with passengers, goods and had a contract to carry the mail. More vessels were added until the 'Siam Steam Navigation Co.' was founded in 1909. The steamers would carry the mail from port to port in the ships mail bag. Loose letters were cancelled by the Purser's fancy rubber hand-stamp and mail cancelled on board ship is very rare indeed.
Stamps cancelled with the 'S.S.N.CO' marks can sometimes be found additionally obliterated with a circular Bamboo chop. These Bamboo cancellations appear to have been applied at the Post Office of arrival where the Purser's hand-stamp was regarded as insufficient.
The 'S.S. "Mahidol" was wrecked on the Kemaman Bar 30th October 1936.
