Census
Census records
2 covers recorded2 pre-1854 covers bearing the Malda HG 1 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.
About this mark
The Malda HG 1 handstamp
Maida is situated in East Bengal, 25°2' N and 88°8' E at the confluence of the Kalindri and the Mahananda. During the eighteenth century it was the seat of thriving cotton and silk manufactures and both the Dutch and French had factories there, but from 1810 it began to lose its prosperity.
Malda HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Malda in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1827 to 1834. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 1".
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 "Very scarce" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for malda pre stamp covers, malda postal history or "Malda HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Malda marks.
Frequently asked
- What is the Malda HG 1 handstamp?
- Malda HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Malda in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1827 to 1834. The "HG 1" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in black.
- How rare is Malda HG 1?
- Malda HG 1 is graded "Very scarce" 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 Malda pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Malda 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. 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 Malda 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 (1827–1834). 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 Malda
1 markOne other pre-1854 postal marking of Malda is recorded in the census. Compare it against this mark to place 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: Malda HG 1, Malda HG1, Malda Giles 1, Malda handstamp, Malda pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Malda HG 1 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bengal/malda/hg-1 (accessed 11 August 2026).
Updated: 11 Aug 2026