Exhibition Report from Arthur Gray, Australian Commissioner

Bangkok 2003 was the third World Philatelic Exhibition to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, over the period 4th to 13th October 2003.  The previous two World Exhibitions were staged in 1983 and 1993, while a further event, to mark the Thirteenth Asian International Stamp Exhibition and World Youth Stamp Exhibition was held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre during April 2000.

As with previous shows, the Communications Authority of Thailand and the Philatelists Association of Thailand again combined to organize Bangkok 2003, with customary success.  The exhibition received Royal patronage from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhom who is herself a collector of stamps and covers, and the event was graced by interesting exhibits of both HRH, and Sultan Sharafuddin Edris Shah of Selangor, Malaysia, which created interest for exhibition visitors.

On this occasion, the exhibition was staged at the IMPACT Convention Centre Muang Thong Thani, some distance from the city centre, and some forty-five minutes by road from the venue hotel, The Imperial Queen's Park. The venue of 15,000 square metres was large and spacious, well-lit, and very well air-conditioned!!  Attractions included a "Top of the World" exhibit of some 16 world rarities, old equipment and post boxes from the postal museum, and a Hall of Fame celebrating both Charles Stewart and Prakaipet Indhusophon, two of Thailand's great philatelists.

Youth was as always well catered for with the ever popular "philatelic passport promotion, an "Elvis on Stamps" display, and cartoon stories featuring stamps.  The show even had daily visits from a juvenile brass band to liven up proceedings!  Local dealers were in profusion, catering for the hoards of general and youth collectors.  Overseas dealers were few in number.

The scale of the show can be gauged from the fact that there were some 3200 frames and more than 600 exhibits!

Australia had 32 entries accepted, made up of 126 frames, nine one-frame exhibits, and two literature entries.  This was third largest on the list of exhibiting countries, being bettered only by the host country and U.S.A.  There were in total 41 Large Gold, 129 Gold ands 126 Large Vermeil medals awarded, contributed by 66 FIP and FIAP federations.  Australia was represented on the Jury by Ray Todd and Malcolm Groom.

As earlier noted, Bangkok 2003 included on an experimental basis only a One Frame Class (Class 12).  This initiative attracted 126 exhibits (nine from Australia) and was marked on a simplistic scale of Gold (90+), Silver (89-70) and Bronze.  This resulted in an enormous number of Silver awards, given the large 20 mark band created, and some slightly negative comment as a result.  The overwhelming response will no doubt ensure the One Frame class becomes a feature of future exhibitions, and the matter of medal scales will be addressed in consequence thereof.

Congratulations are due to the following winners of major awards: Grand Prix d'Honneur : Hiroyuki Kanai Japanese Hand Engraved Issues from 1871 to 1876;  Grand Prix International: Michael Ho China - The Small Dragon and its Surcharges;  Grand Prix National: Prakob Chirakiti - Siam Classic: The Early Years.

Also to Dr Pichai Buranasombati, noted Thai philatelist and Commissioner-General of Bangkok 2003, for signing the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists at Gateshead, England on 5th July last.

Awards gained by Australian exhibitors were detailed in November 2003 APF News (reproduced below).  All in all the Exhibition was a most enjoyable event, and congratulations are due to the organizing committee for putting together yet another outstandingly successful world showing in Bangkok.