Census
Census records
6 covers recorded6 pre-1854 covers bearing the Arrah HG 1 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.
About this mark
The Arrah HG 1 handstamp
Arrah is a city and the administrative headquarters of Bhojpur district, Bihar; under the British Raj it was the headquarters of the historical Shahabad district.
Arrah HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Arrah — the present-day Ara — in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1821 to 1831. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 1".
6 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance. On the strength of that count the mark is graded "Scarce" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for arrah pre stamp covers, arrah postal history or "Arrah HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Arrah marks.
One example recorded in red ink (1830)
Frequently asked
- What is the Arrah HG 1 handstamp?
- Arrah HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Arrah (modern Ara) in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1821 to 1831. The "HG 1" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in black.
- How rare is Arrah HG 1?
- Arrah HG 1 is graded "Scarce" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 6 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
- What does an Arrah pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Arrah is a folded letter or envelope carried before India's first adhesive stamp of 1854, with postage shown entirely by hand-struck marks like HG 1. 6 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance. Each census record on this page links to full cover images, dates and auction provenance.
- How do I identify or submit an Arrah HG 1 cover?
- Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1821–1831). If your cover is not already recorded, you can submit front and back photographs through the census form on this page; every submission is editor-reviewed before publication.
Same office
Other recorded marks at Arrah
2 marks2 other pre-1854 postal markings of Arrah are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
Suggest a correction
Spotted a wrong date, colour or rarity? Propose a change — every suggestion is reviewed before it is applied.
Also searched as: Arrah HG 1, Arrah HG1, Arrah Giles 1, Ara postal history, Arrah handstamp, Arrah pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Arrah HG 1 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bengal/arrah/hg-1 (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026