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Hand Struck Stamps
Calcutta G24 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1859–1863, Red

Bengal Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Calcutta G24

Colour & date
Red1859–1863
Rarity
Common
Note
With "IM"
Catalogue
1989 Catalogue · p. 47
Figure
G24
Submitted by
D. Hammond Giles

Census

Census records

0 covers recorded

No pre stamp cover bearing the Calcutta G24 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.

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About this mark

The Calcutta G24 handstamp

Kolkata, also known as Calcutta, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River.

Calcutta G24 is a early Indian handstruck postal marking of the post office at Calcutta — the present-day Kolkata — in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1859 to 1863. Known strikes are in red. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "G24".

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 "Common" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for calcutta pre stamp covers, calcutta postal history or "Calcutta G24" material can compare G24 across every office or browse the rest of the Calcutta marks.

With "IM"

Frequently asked

What is the Calcutta G24 handstamp?
Calcutta G24 is a early Indian handstruck postal marking of Calcutta (modern Kolkata) in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1859 to 1863. The "G24" 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 Calcutta G24?
Calcutta G24 is graded "Common" 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 Calcutta pre stamp cover with G24 look like?
A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Calcutta is a folded letter or envelope carried before India's first adhesive stamp of 1854, with postage shown entirely by hand-struck marks like G24. 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 Calcutta G24 cover?
Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1859–1863). 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 Calcutta

182 marks

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

View all Calcutta marks and postal history →

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Also searched as: Calcutta G24, Calcutta Giles G24, Kolkata postal history, Calcutta handstamp, Calcutta pre stamp cover.

How to cite

Calcutta G24handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bengal/calcutta/g24 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026