Bengal Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp
Bandel HG 1
- Colour & date
- Black1837–1839
- Rarity
- Scarce
- Catalogue
- 1989 Catalogue · p. 22
- Figure
- 1
- Submitted by
- D. Hammond Giles
Census
Census records
0 covers recordedNo pre stamp cover bearing the Bandel HG 1 handstamp has been recorded yet. If you hold one, submit it below.
No covers bearing this mark have been recorded yet. If you hold one, your submission — once reviewed — will appear here.
About this mark
The Bandel HG 1 handstamp
Bandel is a suburb of Hooghly town in the Hooghly District, Bengal situated 22°55' N, and 88°24' E on the right bank of the Hooghly River. It contains a Roman Catholic co nvent, said to be the oldest Christian church in Bengal. It is famous for its cheeses.
Bandel HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Bandel in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1837 to 1839. 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".
No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example. On the strength of that count the mark is graded "Scarce" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for bandel pre stamp covers, bandel postal history or "Bandel HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Bandel marks.
Frequently asked
- What is the Bandel HG 1 handstamp?
- Bandel HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Bandel in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1837 to 1839. 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 Bandel HG 1?
- Bandel 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. No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example.
- What does a Bandel pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Bandel 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. No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example. Each census record on this page links to full cover images, dates and auction provenance.
- How do I identify or submit a Bandel 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 (1837–1839). 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.
Suggest a correction
Spotted a wrong date, colour or rarity? Propose a change — every suggestion is reviewed before it is applied.
Also searched as: Bandel HG 1, Bandel HG1, Bandel Giles 1, Bandel handstamp, Bandel pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Bandel HG 1 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bengal/bandel/hg-1 (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026