What is the Patna HG 1 handstamp?

Patna HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Patna in the Bengal Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1785. 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 Patna HG 1?

Patna HG 1 is graded "Rare" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example.

What does a Patna pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Patna 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. No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example. Each census record on this page links to full cover images, dates and auction provenance.

How do I identify or submit a Patna 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 (1785). 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

Patna HG 1

Handstamp Ex-territorial British

Date Span: 1785
Colour: Black
Rarity: Rare
Note: Rare
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 166
Figure: 1
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

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Census

Census records

0 covers recorded

No pre stamp cover bearing the Patna HG 1 handstamp has been recorded yet. If you hold one, submit it below.

No covers bearing this mark have been recorded yet. If you hold one, your submission — once reviewed — will appear here.

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About this mark

The Patna HG 1 handstamp

Patna, the chief town in Patna District, Bengal, is situated 25°37' N and 85°10' E, on the right bank of the Ganges River, a few miles below its junction with the Son. During the eighteenth century the East India Company established a factory at Patna, and this was involved in the event of the Massacre of Patna in 1763. It later became involved during the 1857 uprising. Patna did not enter British India until 1818.

Patna HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Patna in the Bengal Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1785. 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".

No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example. On the strength of that count the mark is graded "Rare" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for patna pre stamp covers, patna postal history or "Patna HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Patna marks.

Rare

Frequently asked

What is the Patna HG 1 handstamp?: Patna HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Patna in the Bengal Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1785. 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 Patna HG 1?: Patna HG 1 is graded "Rare" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example.
What does a Patna pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Patna 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. No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example. Each census record on this page links to full cover images, dates and auction provenance.
How do I identify or submit a Patna 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 (1785). 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 Patna

18 marks

18 other pre-1854 postal markings of Patna are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.

View all Patna marks and postal history →

Suggest a correction

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

Also searched as: Patna HG 1, Patna HG1, Patna Giles 1, Patna handstamp, Patna pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Patna HG 1 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bengal/patna/hg-1 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026