What is the DumDum MN 1 marking?

DumDum MN 1 is a pre-1854 manuscript postal marking of DumDum in the Bengal Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1822. The "MN 1" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India.

How rare is DumDum MN 1?

DumDum MN 1 has 1 example recorded 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 DumDum pre stamp cover with MN 1 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from DumDum is a folded letter or envelope carried before India's first adhesive stamp of 1854, with postage shown entirely by manuscript rate marks like MN 1. 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 DumDum MN 1 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1822). 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 Manuscript

DumDum MN 1

Manuscript

Type: Manuscript
Date Span: 1822
Rarity: 1 example recorded
Figure: MN1
Submitted by: Samik Nandi

← HG 7 All DumDum

Census

Census records

1 cover recorded

1 pre-1854 cover bearing the DumDum MN 1 manuscript marking is recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-2192

September 1822

Manuscript Dum Dum Cancel on a September 1822 cover sent to Barrackpore. It bears a Manuscript marking dated earlier than HG1 which imply the Dum Dum PO was working at least since 1822. It also bears a "PAID" unrecorded marking and Calcutta Type G5. The "PAID" mark was probably applied in Dum Dum and is perhaps the first recorded mark from Dum Dum. Do note Calcutta did not have a similar mark at that time.

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About this mark

The DumDum MN 1 marking

Dum Dum, a town in the Barrackpore division of the District of Twenty-four Parganas, Bengal, situated 22°38' N and 88°25' E. It was the Headquarters of the Bengal Artillery from 1783 to 1853, and is the site of the Government ammunition factory .

DumDum MN 1 is a pre-1854 manuscript postal marking of the post office at DumDum in the Bengal Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1822. Its "MN 1" 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 "1 example recorded" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for dumdum pre stamp covers, dumdum postal history or "DumDum MN1" material can compare MN 1 across every office or browse the rest of the DumDum marks.

Frequently asked

What is the DumDum MN 1 marking?: DumDum MN 1 is a pre-1854 manuscript postal marking of DumDum in the Bengal Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1822. The "MN 1" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India.
How rare is DumDum MN 1?: DumDum MN 1 has 1 example recorded 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 DumDum pre stamp cover with MN 1 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from DumDum is a folded letter or envelope carried before India's first adhesive stamp of 1854, with postage shown entirely by manuscript rate marks like MN 1. 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 DumDum MN 1 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1822). 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 DumDum

7 marks

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

View all DumDum 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: DumDum MN 1, DumDum MN1, DumDum Giles MN 1, DumDum handstamp, DumDum pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“DumDum MN 1 — manuscript,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bengal/dumdum/mn-1 (accessed 20 August 2026).

Updated: 20 Aug 2026