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Hand Struck Stamps
Berhampore HG 8 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1848, Red

Bengal Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Berhampore HG 8

Handstamp
Colour & date
Red1848
Rarity
Scarce
Figure
8
Submitted by
Cavendish Philatelic Auctions
← HG 7All Berhampore

Census

Census records

1 cover recorded

1 pre-1854 cover bearing the Berhampore HG 8 handstamp is recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-2533 pre-stamp cover
COV-2533

30 June 1848

STAMPLESS MAIL TO G.B. INC. 2d CONCESSION RATE & RANGE OF BOXED "Paid" MARKS (CANNANORE x 2, ETC.); 1844-58 E/ELs inc. 1848 env. at Soldier's Concession Rate with mainly fine red oval "CAWNPOOR/FREE" ds, 1844 pair with "CANNANORE/Paid" (one overstruck), similar boxed "...Paid" ds of POONAH, SIMLA, BERHAMPORE, ST THO MOUNT & SIALKOTE. Useful group. (13 covers) Cross Reference: MILITARY - PENNY CONCESSION RATES

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About this mark

The Berhampore HG 8 handstamp

Berhampore HG 8 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Berhampore — the present-day Baharampur — in the Bengal Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1848. Known strikes are in red. Its "HG 8" designation is the figure number assigned in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India.

A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, 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 berhampore pre-stamp covers, berhampore postal history or "Berhampore HG8" material can compare HG 8 across every office or browse the rest of the Berhampore marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Berhampore HG 8 handstamp?
Berhampore HG 8 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Berhampore (modern Baharampur) in the Bengal Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1848. The "HG 8" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in red.
How rare is Berhampore HG 8?
Berhampore HG 8 is graded "Scarce" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, with images and provenance.
What does a Berhampore pre-stamp cover with HG 8 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 8. A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, 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 8 cover?
Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1848). 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.

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Also searched as: Berhampore HG 8, Berhampore HG8, Berhampore Giles 8, Baharampur postal history, Berhampore handstamp, Berhampore pre-stamp cover.

How to cite

“Berhampore HG 8 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bengal/berhampore/hg-8 (accessed 13 July 2026).

Updated: 13 Jul 2026