What is the Poorneea HG 1 handstamp?

Poorneea HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Poorneea (modern Purnia) in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1824 to 1836. 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 Poorneea HG 1?

Poorneea 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. 4 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.

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

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Poorneea 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. 4 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 Poorneea 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 (1824–1836). 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.

Poorneea HG 1 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1824–1836, Black

Bengal Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Poorneea HG 1

Handstamp

Colour & date: Black1824–1836
Rarity: Very scarce
Catalogue: 2000 Supplement · p. 13
Figure: 1
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

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Census

Census records

4 covers recorded

4 pre-1854 covers bearing the Poorneea HG 1 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-1876

30 December 1824

Poorneea: 1824 (30 Dec.) entire letter to London, the reverse with very fine strike of the rare framed "POORNEEA/Sa. Wt./POST PAID/Rs. As." (HG 1) completed in manuscript, faint part overstrikes of transit datestamps, with framed "INDIA LETTER/BRIGHTON" adjacent. Beautiful wax seal on flap worded "I'll part we them all, Ere I'll part we my lassie".

COV-494

12 March 1825

India, Poorneea, 1825, "Poorneea/Sa Wt/Post Paid/Rs As/18__" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1). Wonderfully well-struck with manuscript "12 March (18) 25" date and "Ship Postage 2as 8as" rate added on back of folded letter to London, England, framed "INDIA LETTER/DOVER" handstamp (Robertson In. 2), red Calcutta (Mar. 18) transit and London (Nov. 3) arrival datestamps, manuscript "1/-" rate marking, Very Fine and handsome use, this marking is noted as "scarce" by Giles

COV-2129

1832

COV-1147

9 June 1836

Purnea: 1836 (9Jr:ne) entire to Calcutta showing a very good strike of the rare boxed "Poorneea/S W/post paid/k A'/ 18" d.s. with resr of date and rate (6as) in -i.

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About this mark

The Poorneea HG 1 handstamp

Poorneea (Purnea) the headquarters of Poorneea District, Bengal on the east bank of the Saura River, situated 25°46' N and 87°28' E. Poorneea the outlying military province of the Mogul empire The District came into British hands in 1765, along with the rest of Bengal.

Poorneea HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Poorneea — the present-day Purnia — in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1824 to 1836. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 2000 Supplement, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 1".

4 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 poorneea pre stamp covers, poorneea postal history or "Poorneea HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Poorneea marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Poorneea HG 1 handstamp?: Poorneea HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Poorneea (modern Purnia) in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1824 to 1836. 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 Poorneea HG 1?: Poorneea 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. 4 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does a Poorneea pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Poorneea 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. 4 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 Poorneea 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 (1824–1836). 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 Poorneea

2 marks

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

View all Poorneea 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: Poorneea HG 1, Poorneea HG1, Poorneea Giles 1, Purnia postal history, Poorneea handstamp, Poorneea pre stamp cover.

How to cite

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

Updated: 10 Aug 2026