(21 Oct 2025) This post describes the oldest example of Thai script printed in Europe, dating back to around 1700. It recounts the early formal relations between Great Britain and Thailand (then Siam) starting in 1612, including diplomatic exchanges such as the 1684 embassy from Ayutthaya (the Siamese capital) to France via Great Britain. During this time, a handwritten Thai syllabary with Romanized equivalents was presented to King Charles II and later passed to Thomas Hyde, a scholar and translator, who had it copper-plate engraved by Michael Burghers.
This printed Thai syllabary, created around 1700, is the oldest known example of Thai script printed outside Thailand. After Hyde’s death, the manuscript entered the Royal Collection and eventually the British Museum and British Library. The document also mentions earlier Chinese woodblock prints of Thai script in multi-language vocabularies produced at the end of the 16th century.
The blog post situates this work in the context of early modern international relations, Oriental studies, and printing history, highlighting key historical figures and the significance of the syllabary as a bridge for communication and cultural exchange between Britain and Siam.
Read the full post here.
