Teochew Letters 潮州僑批
To Home, With Love 番畔有批到家來 - 南洋發批地
Since the late Ming dynasty, the Teochew people have migrated overseas in large numbers to escape war, social unrest and poverty. More than ten million Teochews, almost as many as the current population in the Teochew region, now live outside China in over 40 countries and territories.Most of the overseas Teochews reside in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. Thailand in particular has a large and influential Teochew community. It is from these countries that the Teochew Letters originate.
明朝後期以來,為了逃避戰爭動亂和貧窮的生活困境,大批潮人移民到海外。如今旅居海外的潮州人遍佈世界40多個國家和地區,人口超過千萬,幾乎是現在整個潮州地區的總人數。他們大部分生活在東南亞國家和香港地區,因此僑批也主要來源於這些地方。其中在泰國的潮人社群人數和社會影響力最大。
In the Teochew Letters, Thailand was always referred by its old name Siam, indicated by the Chinese character 暹. The writings on this back cover show that it was sent from Siam on 1 May 1923. A postmark reveals that it arrived in Swatow on 8 May. Given the modes of transportation in those times, the passage of seven days was considered express delivery. 暹: 今泰國在許多僑批裡被稱為暹羅。封背書"癸三月16日", 即1923年5月1日, 到達汕頭後, 蓋"十二年五月八日"郵政日戳, 即1923年5月8日。此批從泰國寄至汕頭, 郵程僅用7天, 在當時交通工具相對落後的條件下, 這種速度可謂是快捷了。
As a sign of the change in times, this 1951 letter was posted from Siam to Chenghai in an "Air Mail" envelope. 此為1951年元月11日由暹羅寄往澄邑的僑批,用的是印製的航空信封。
A reminder to the recipient family to "reply as soon as possible upon receipt of money", was stamped on the front of this cover. 如圖,蓋在批封上的藍印,是為了提醒僑屬"收款後儘快回復"
In the Teochew Letters, Thailand was always referred by its old name Siam, indicated by the Chinese character 暹. The writings on this back cover show that it was sent from Siam on 1 May 1923. A postmark reveals that it arrived in Swatow on 8 May. Given the modes of transportation in those times, the passage of seven days was considered express delivery. 暹: 今泰國在許多僑批裡被稱為暹羅。封背書"癸三月16日", 即1923年5月1日, 到達汕頭後, 蓋"十二年五月八日"郵政日戳, 即1923年5月8日。此批從泰國寄至汕頭, 郵程僅用7天, 在當時交通工具相對落後的條件下, 這種速度可謂是快捷了。