1 August 2014

Cambodia Becomes a Republic on Postmark

Honestly sailing ships is not interesting to me, but I have to show this 1997 thematic first day cover for it deserves some attention.

The 6v + 1 S/S set was issued on 10th September of the year.  Here is the first day cover for the stamps:

A major mistake happens regarding the full name of the country.  The first day commemorative postmark inscribes in French "Republique du Cambodge" which is "Republic of Cambodia" in English.   Below is a close up of the postmark:

The Cambodian monarchy was restored in 1993 as a consequence of the UNTAC sponsored general elections, since then the country is officially known as "Royaume du Cambodge" in French, or in English, "Kingdom of Cambodia".  It seems that the Cambodian postal authority does not know about the mistake made by the Cuban printer, no withdrawal has ever been suggested.

Cambodia was a semi-presidential republic from 1970 to 1975.  Known as the Khmer Republic ("République Khmère" in French),  the pro-American republican government was established after a coup which overthrew Prince Norodom Sihanouk.  Following the fall of Khmer Rouge in 1979, Cambodia became a pro-Vietnamese socialist state officially called the People's Republic of Kampuchea ("République populaire du Kampuchéa" in French) until 1989. 

The present monarch of Cambodia, HM King Norodom Sihamoni,
visited farmers in Prey Veng Province,
southeast Cambodia, 30th July 2014.
(Courtesy: Royal Cabinet Photo)