Bengal Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp
Moongyr HG 1
- Colour & date
- Black1786–1837
- Rarity
- Scarce
- Note
- Intaglio white on black. Scarce The most important thing of this handstamp is that its a BILINGUAL one, the fact never been recorded by any one so far. This might be due to smudged and unclear handstamps. Hence the URDU wordings in the handstamps were taken as the design, rather the wordings. This quite a clear handstamp shows in Urdu, MO| ° Jon right side and NAGIRL%] on left side of "POST" in the first line & LAIU& VASUI „l' ] on left and right side of "PAID" on bottom line i.e. VASUL ie. PAID. URDU is a Vernacular Indian language which is read from right to left and accordingly the setting is
- Catalogue
- 1989 Catalogue · p. 144
- Figure
- 1
- Submitted by
- D. Hammond Giles
Census
Census records
12 covers recorded12 pre-1854 covers bearing the Moongyr HG 1 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.
About this mark
The Moongyr HG 1 handstamp
Moongyr is situated 25°23' N and 86°28' E, on the south bank of the Ganges, in Moongyr District, Bengal. When Nawab Mir Kasim Ali determined on war against the English, he selected Moongyr as his capital in 1763, but after his defeat at Udhua Nullah, he fled on the approach of the British under Major Adams that year.
Moongyr HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Moongyr — the present-day Munger — in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1786 to 1837. 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".
12 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 "Scarce" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for moongyr pre stamp covers, moongyr postal history or "Moongyr HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Moongyr marks.
Intaglio white on black. Scarce The most important thing of this handstamp is that its a BILINGUAL one, the fact never been recorded by any one so far. This might be due to smudged and unclear handstamps. Hence the URDU wordings in the handstamps were taken as the design, rather the wordings. This quite a clear handstamp shows in Urdu, MO| ° Jon right side and NAGIRL%] on left side of "POST" in the first line & LAIU& VASUI „l' ] on left and right side of "PAID" on bottom line i.e. VASUL ie. PAID. URDU is a Vernacular Indian language which is read from right to left and accordingly the setting is
Frequently asked
- What is the Moongyr HG 1 handstamp?
- Moongyr HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Moongyr (modern Munger) in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1786 to 1837. 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 Moongyr HG 1?
- Moongyr HG 1 is graded "Scarce" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 12 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
- What does a Moongyr pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Moongyr 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. 12 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 Moongyr 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 (1786–1837). 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 Moongyr
3 marks3 other pre-1854 postal markings of Moongyr 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: Moongyr HG 1, Moongyr HG1, Moongyr Giles 1, Munger postal history, Moongyr handstamp, Moongyr pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Moongyr HG 1 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bengal/moongyr/hg-1 (accessed 11 August 2026).
Updated: 11 Aug 2026