I was at the Land Department the other day and thought I’d share photos: This is the original land deed for our property on Pan Road. It is over a hundred years old and has scribbles and amendments written on it. It is in my husband’s great (great 5 times, I think) grandfather’s name who was married to Than Pan, of Pan Road. Every time this is used we have to fight off the bureaucrats who insist that we need to modernize our documents. Thank goodness we’ve been able to resist. Handling the original documents imparts a wonderful sense of gratitude and continuity of family. It is an interesting part of history as well.

You see, this is not only the first deed ever issued for the property, it is also one of the first of its kind (well, actually it’s numbered 459th.) The Siamese concept of land ownership before the issuance of modern map title deeds was very different; then there was plenty of land and  the state welcomed assistance in clearing the forest for development. A person could claim land provided there was continuous utilization and income was shared with the state. These claims could be passed from one generation to another, and financial compensation given when these claims were transferred. When this system became too unwieldy, and with growing concern over maintaining sovereignty, the decision was made to begin cadastral and national mapping, and the Royal Edict on Map Title Deeds was issued afterwards in May 1901.

The first Map Title Deed of modern Siam was issued for The Royal Palace and was numbered “1”, dated 1 October 1901. (Actually it was dated 1 October RE 120. “RE” is an abbreviation for “Rattanakosin Era” and was a calendar system implemented by King Rama V.) This Map Title Deed Act clearly differentiated between land owned by the State and that owned by individuals, and paved the way for modernization with the inception of provincial administration and governorship leading to the establishment of a western-style judicial system. (Sources: Land Department Museum Modern Siam and the Map title Deed.)