What is the Nepaul HG 3 handstamp?

Nepaul HG 3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Nepaul (modern Kathmandu) in the Bengal Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1843. The "HG 3" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in magenta.

How rare is Nepaul HG 3?

Nepaul HG 3 has 5 examples 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 Nepaul pre-stamp cover with HG 3 look like?

A pre-stamp (pre-philatelic) cover from Nepaul 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 3. 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 Nepaul HG 3 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1843). 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 Handstamp

Nepaul HG 3

Handstamp

Colour & date: Magenta1843
Rarity: 5 examples recorded
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue
Figure: 3
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 2 All Nepaul

Census

Census records

1 cover recorded

1 pre-1854 cover bearing the Nepaul HG 3 handstamp is recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-2422

17 July 1843

Indian Post Office 1843 (July 17): Cover and contents from Nepal written and countersigned by the British Resident in Nepal, Brian H. Hodgson, to TH Maddock (the previous British Resident to Hodgson) in Calcutta, struck on reverse with oval framed "NEPAUL / FREE" handstamp in magenta with manuscript date "18th July 43" inserted, with Calcutta arrival (July 26) in red below. Fascinating content "Lord E(llenborough) wants my place for some pet soldier, of late he has shown it rather broadly so that I shall cease to cross him and go home" - Hodgson resigned in 1843 due to Ellenborough's interference and was posted to Simla. Ellenborough's 'pet', Henry Montgomery Lawrence (1806-1857) was installed in his place (he was to die at Lucknow during the Mutiny). Just five examples of the Resident's "Nepaul / Free" handstamp are recorded, all used between April and August 1843.rnrnNote: Brian Houghton Hodgson (1801-1894) was initially the Postmaster (1824) and assistant British Resident in Nepal (1825) and British Resident from 1833-1843. An outstanding linguist, naturalist and scholar with many species of birds named after him, he also wrote at length on Buddhism and authored "Essays on Language, Literature, and Religion of Nepal and Tibet" published in 1874.

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About this mark

The Nepaul HG 3 handstamp

Nepaul HG 3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Nepaul — the present-day Kathmandu — in the Bengal Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1843. Known strikes are in magenta. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 3".

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 "5 examples recorded" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for nepaul pre-stamp covers, nepaul postal history or "Nepaul HG3" material can compare HG 3 across every office or browse the rest of the Nepaul marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Nepaul HG 3 handstamp?: Nepaul HG 3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Nepaul (modern Kathmandu) in the Bengal Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1843. The "HG 3" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in magenta.
How rare is Nepaul HG 3?: Nepaul HG 3 has 5 examples 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 Nepaul pre-stamp cover with HG 3 look like?: A pre-stamp (pre-philatelic) cover from Nepaul 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 3. 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 Nepaul HG 3 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1843). 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.

Suggest a correction

Spotted a wrong date, colour or rarity? Propose a change — every suggestion is reviewed before it is applied.

Also searched as: Nepaul HG 3, Nepaul HG3, Nepaul Giles 3, Kathmandu postal history, Nepaul handstamp, Nepaul pre-stamp cover.

How to cite

“Nepaul HG 3 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bengal/nepaul/hg-3 (accessed 10 July 2026).

Updated: 10 Jul 2026

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