What is the Berhampore HG 5 handstamp?

Berhampore HG 5 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Berhampore (modern Baharampur) in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1817 to 1837. The "HG 5" 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 Berhampore HG 5?

Berhampore HG 5 is graded "Very scarce" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 5 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.

What does a Berhampore pre stamp cover with HG 5 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Berhampore 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 5. 5 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 a Berhampore HG 5 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1817–1837). 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.

Bengal Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Berhampore HG 5

Handstamp

Colour & date: Black1817–1837
Rarity: Very scarce
Note: V. scarce – 66×33mm
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 30
Figure: 5
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 4 All Berhampore HG 6 →

Census

Census records

5 covers recorded

5 pre-1854 covers bearing the Berhampore HG 5 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-2706

20 October 1817

COV-1534

1818

1818 BERHAMPORE Post Office Giles 5 on folded entire to Lieutt. Col. Doyle, Military Secretary, Head Quarters, inscribed Private Service

COV-1871

December 1836

Moongyr: 1836 (Dec.) entire letter showing, on reverse, rare intaglio oval "Bearg/Moongyr/Post" (HG 2), also showing faint strikes of the very large oval "SERAMPORE/Post Office" (HG 5, torn through opening) and framed "HOUGHLY" (HG 1).

COV-735

9 December 1836

1836 : H.S.5 : Letter posted from CALCUTTA [9 Dec.] to BERHAMPORE, but was redirected to HOOGLY.This handstamp: The letter was stamped with the "BERHAMPORE/Post Office" stamp, which was only used when a letter was sent from BERHAMPORE "Bearing", used during 1817-37. This stamp used at BERHAMPORE was most unsuitable, because of its size [65 mm x 30 mml, as the impression inevitably become smudged by the edge of the stamp at both the top and bottom still it was used for a period of 20 years. However, the copies of the said cancellation are not easily obtainable and is consideras a very scarce.

COV-1028

1837

Berhampore 1837 "Private Service" envelope to Calcutta showing large oval-framed "BERHAMPORE/Post Office" (HG5); good strike and rare. 1837 Berhampore – Calcutta inland cover, with Berhampore Giles 5 "BERHAMPORE/Post Office" dispatch handstamp, date "14 September" & rate "৩" (paid 3A single letter inland postage to Calcutta) applied in Bengali numeral, at Calcutta Giles G13 "G.P.O./SEP 16/1837" receipt & "AM" delivery time mark applied.

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About this mark

The Berhampore HG 5 handstamp

Berhampore, also known as Baharampur, is a city in West Bengal and the administrative headquarters of Murshidabad district.

Berhampore HG 5 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Berhampore — the present-day Baharampur — in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1817 to 1837. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 5".

5 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 "Very scarce" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for berhampore pre stamp covers, berhampore postal history or "Berhampore HG5" material can compare HG 5 across every office or browse the rest of the Berhampore marks.

V. scarce – 66×33mm

Frequently asked

What is the Berhampore HG 5 handstamp?: Berhampore HG 5 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Berhampore (modern Baharampur) in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1817 to 1837. The "HG 5" 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 Berhampore HG 5?: Berhampore HG 5 is graded "Very scarce" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 5 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does a Berhampore pre stamp cover with HG 5 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Berhampore 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 5. 5 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 a Berhampore HG 5 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1817–1837). 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 Berhampore

8 marks

8 other pre-1854 postal markings of Berhampore are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.

View all Berhampore marks and postal history →

Suggest a correction

Spotted a wrong date, colour or rarity? Propose a change — every suggestion is reviewed before it is applied.

Also searched as: Berhampore HG 5, Berhampore HG5, Berhampore Giles 5, Baharampur postal history, Berhampore handstamp, Berhampore pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Berhampore HG 5 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bengal/berhampore/hg-5 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026