Post office · Bengal Presidency
Chittagong
- Handstamps
- 4
- Recorded
- 1788–1851
- Rare
- 1
Chittagong, in East Bengal, is situated 22°21' N and 91°50' E, on the right bank of the Kamaphuli River, 12 miles from its mouth. In the possession of the Moghals until 1760, when it was ceded to the East India Company, to become the headquarters of their Bengal trade.
Chittagong has 4 pre-1854 hand-struck postal markings dated 1788–1851 recorded in this census. Each figure links to its covers, rarity and provenance.
Chittagong handstamp summary
All recorded markings at a glance — click any row for full details and covers.
Frequently asked — Chittagong postal history
- What are the pre stamp covers of Chittagong?
- Pre stamp (pre philatelic) covers of Chittagong are folded letters and envelopes that passed through the Chittagong post office before India's first adhesive stamp of 1854, so postage was shown entirely by hand-struck postal markings and manuscript rates. Chittagong was a post office of the Bengal Presidency, British India, and this census records 4 distinct postal markings used there, dated between 1788 and 1851.
- How many handstamps are recorded for Chittagong?
- 4 hand-struck postal markings are recorded for Chittagong in this census, of which 1 is graded rare or better. Each mark carries its Hammond Giles catalogue figure number, colour, date range, evidence-based rarity grade, and links to every surviving cover recorded with it.
- What is Chittagong called today?
- Chittagong is the colonial-era name of present-day Chattogram, India. Covers and postmarks are catalogued here under the historical name used on the marks themselves.
- How do I identify a Chittagong postmark or cover?
- Compare your cover against the reference impressions on this page — each figure shows the mark's design, ink colour and recorded date range. If your Chittagong cover bears a mark that matches a figure, open that figure's page to see every recorded example with provenance. If it matches none, it may be unrecorded: submit photographs through the form on this page and the editors will review it for inclusion in the census.
Also searched as: Chittagong, Chattogram, Chittagong HG 1, Chittagong handstruck stamps, Chittagong pre stamp covers, Chittagong postal history.
How to cite
“Chittagong, Bengal Presidency — pre-1854 handstruck stamps & covers,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bengal/chittagong (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026
An unrecorded mark from Chittagong?
If you hold a cover or strike from Chittagong that does not match any figure above, submit it below. Approved additions appear here as new entries in the census — every submission is reviewed first.
Same presidency
Other post offices in the Bengal Presidency
Explore the pre-1854 postal history of other Bengal Presidency post offices — each page lists its recorded handstruck markings, dates and surviving covers.