Royal palaces, deserted temples and the King's birthday celebrations: Stunning 125-year-old photos showcase idyllic Thailand before the tourism boom

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Some of the earliest photographs of Thailand which showcase the tropical paradise long before it became a tourist hotspot have emerged.

The collection of images from the early 1890s include snaps of the birthday celebrations of the King of Siam in 1892, who was later immortalised in hit musical film The King and I.

The collection of black and white photos also show his royal palace and the striking Bangkok architecture.

Stunning 125 year-old pictures of Thailand which showcase the tropical paradise long before it became a tourist hotspot have emerged. Above, the exterior of the King's Palace, Bangkok

Ancient revelry: Locals gather for the festivities marking the King's birthday celebrations in 1892

The photo album will go under the hammer on January 25 and is tipped to sell for £1,500.The owner of the album is believed to have been a member of the Royal Engineers or connected with them. Above, the King's garden

The fascinating photos provide a snapshot of Thailand under the rule of King Chulalongkorn (left). He was the first Siamese king to have a full western education, having been taught by British governess Anna Leonowens whose memoirs were turned into 1956 film The King and I. The Queen of Siam, Queen Sunanda Kumnariratana (right)

Also included in the collection are photos of Hong Kong under British crown rule in 1895, British seamen, the Hong Kong cricket team and the native army.

The interesting photos provide a snapshot of Thailand under the rule of King Chulalongkorn.

He was the first Siamese King to have a full western education, having been taught by British governess Anna Leonowens, whose memoirs were turned into 1956 film The King and I.

Endless opulence: The throne room of the Royal Palace, Bangkok, in the 1890s

A temple in Ayutthaya the ancient capital of Siam (left) and a huge bronze Buddha also in Ayutthaya (right)

Still in existence today an exterior image from 1892 shows the exterior of the King's Palace in Bangkok

Deserted beauty spots: Unlike today, the country had picturesque locations without a crowd of visitors, such as Oriental Avenue down to the Chao Phraya river (right) and Lake temple in Bangkok (left)

The original owner of the album is believed to have been a member of the Royal Engineers or connected with them.

Arnaud Delas, photo specialist at London-based auctioneers 25 Blythe Road which is selling the collection, said the photos of the King and Queen of Thailand were particularly significant.

He said: 'This is a good, complete album. Since people nowadays tend to sell photos individually, you don't often get that.

Undiscovered: The tropical paradise is empty of tourists in this view of Bangkok from the Naval depot. Tourism experienced a boom in Thailand in the 1960s boosted by the presence of US soldiers who arrived for rest and recuperation during the Vietnam War

Enduring hospitality: The beautifully located Oriental Hotel in Bangkok is still running today

King Chulalongkorn reigned until he was peacefully succeeded by his son Vajiravudh, who was educated at Sandhurst military academy, in 1910. The Royal Pavillion (left) and 'Klong' side houses (right)

'The King of Thailand at that time, King Chulalongkorn, is a very important historic figure as he modernised Thailand.

'He was very respected during his reign and now everything concerning him is quite sought after as he is an iconic figure in Thailand.

'The pictures of Hong Kong are quite uncommon. They tell an interesting story of life for the Brits who lived there. There was even a cricket team.

'We believe the Thailand pictures are from a studio called T.Chitt but we are unsure about where the Hong Kong photos originate from.'

Now a top tourist attraction Wat Chang temple can be seen 125 years ago from the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok

Ayutthaya as it was: The development of long haul travel made the country accessible from all four corners of the globe and tourism has flourished since

King Chulalongkorn reigned until he was peacefully succeeded by his son Vajiravudh, who was educated at Sandhurst military academy, in 1910.

He was seen as a modernising monarch, which may explain why Siam (now Thailand) was the only country in Southeast Asia to avoid European colonisation.

Tourism experienced a boom in Thailand in the 1960s boosted by the presence of US soldiers who arrived for rest and recuperation during the Vietnam War.

The development of long haul travel made the country accessible from all four corners of the globe and tourism has flourished since.

The photo album is being sold with a pre-sale estimate of £1,500 on January 25.