Bengal Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp
Hazaribagh HG 1
- Colour & date
- Purple1838–1839
- Rarity
- Common
- Catalogue
- 1989 Catalogue · p. 100
- Figure
- 1
- Submitted by
- D. Hammond Giles
Census
Census records
1 cover recorded1 pre-1854 cover bearing the Hazaribagh HG 1 handstamp is recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.
About this mark
The Hazaribagh HG 1 handstamp
Hazaribagh Town is in the same named District, Bengal, situated 23°59' N and 85°22' E on the high central plateau of the District, at an elevation of 2000 feet above sea level. It became the Headquarters of the civil administration from 1834, and a cantonment was established south-east of the town.
Hazaribagh HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Hazaribagh in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1838 to 1839. Known strikes are in purple. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 1".
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 "Common" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for hazaribagh pre stamp covers, hazaribagh postal history or "Hazaribagh HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Hazaribagh marks.
Frequently asked
- What is the Hazaribagh HG 1 handstamp?
- Hazaribagh HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Hazaribagh in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1838 to 1839. The "HG 1" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in purple.
- How rare is Hazaribagh HG 1?
- Hazaribagh HG 1 is graded "Common" 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 Hazaribagh pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Hazaribagh 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 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 Hazaribagh HG 1 cover?
- Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1838–1839). 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 Hazaribagh
2 marks2 other pre-1854 postal markings of Hazaribagh 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: Hazaribagh HG 1, Hazaribagh HG1, Hazaribagh Giles 1, Hazaribagh handstamp, Hazaribagh pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Hazaribagh HG 1 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bengal/hazaribagh/hg-1 (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026