Bengal Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp
Gya HG 2
- Colour & date
- Red1847–1854
- Rarity
- Common
- Catalogue
- 1993 Supplement · p. 15
- Figure
- 2
- Submitted by
- D. Hammond Giles
Census
Census records
2 covers recorded2 pre-1854 covers bearing the Gya HG 2 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.
About this mark
The Gya HG 2 handstamp
Gya (Gaya) is the chief town in Gaya District, Bengal, situated 24°49' N and 85°1' E, on the left bank of the Phalgu River.
Gya HG 2 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Gya — the present-day Gaya — in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1847 to 1854. Known strikes are in red. It is listed in 1993 Supplement, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 2".
2 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 "Common" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for gya pre stamp covers, gya postal history or "Gya HG2" material can compare HG 2 across every office or browse the rest of the Gya marks.
Frequently asked
- What is the Gya HG 2 handstamp?
- Gya HG 2 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Gya (modern Gaya) in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1847 to 1854. The "HG 2" 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 Gya HG 2?
- Gya HG 2 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 2 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
- What does a Gya pre stamp cover with HG 2 look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Gya 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 2. 2 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 Gya HG 2 cover?
- Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1847–1854). 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 Gya
3 marks3 other pre-1854 postal markings of Gya are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
Suggest a correction
Spotted a wrong date, colour or rarity? Propose a change — every suggestion is reviewed before it is applied.
Also searched as: Gya HG 2, Gya HG2, Gya Giles 2, Gaya postal history, Gya handstamp, Gya pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Gya HG 2 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bengal/gya/hg-2 (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026