Post office · Bombay Presidency
Bassein
- Handstamps
- 1
- Recorded
- 1839–1840
Bassein is in the Thana District of Bombay, situated 19°20' N and 72°49' E, 28 miles north of Bombay City. Originally a Portuguese territory, but in 1780 it was captured by the British under the command of General Goddard, and by the Treaty of Salbai (1782) it was restored to the Marathas, and in 1818, on the overthrow of the Peshwa, it was resumed by the British.
Bassein has 1 pre-1854 hand-struck postal marking dated 1839–1840 recorded in this census. Each figure links to its covers, rarity and provenance.
Bassein handstamp summary
All recorded markings at a glance — click any row for full details and covers.
| Mark | Type | Colour | Dates | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HG 1 | Handstamp | Black | 1839–1840 | Common |
Frequently asked — Bassein postal history
- What are the pre stamp covers of Bassein?
- Pre stamp (pre philatelic) covers of Bassein are folded letters and envelopes that passed through the Bassein post office before India's first adhesive stamp of 1854, so postage was shown entirely by hand-struck postal markings and manuscript rates. Bassein was a post office of the Bombay Presidency, British India, and this census records 1 distinct postal marking used there, dated between 1839 and 1840.
- How many handstamps are recorded for Bassein?
- 1 hand-struck postal marking is recorded for Bassein in this census. Each mark carries its Hammond Giles catalogue figure number, colour, date range, evidence-based rarity grade, and links to every surviving cover recorded with it.
- What is Bassein called today?
- Bassein is the colonial-era name of present-day Vasai, India. Covers and postmarks are catalogued here under the historical name used on the marks themselves.
- How do I identify a Bassein postmark or cover?
- Compare your cover against the reference impressions on this page — each figure shows the mark's design, ink colour and recorded date range. If your Bassein cover bears a mark that matches a figure, open that figure's page to see every recorded example with provenance. If it matches none, it may be unrecorded: submit photographs through the form on this page and the editors will review it for inclusion in the census.
Also searched as: Bassein, Vasai, Bassein HG 1, Bassein handstruck stamps, Bassein pre stamp covers, Bassein postal history.
How to cite
“Bassein, Bombay Presidency — pre-1854 handstruck stamps & covers,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bombay/bassein (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026
An unrecorded mark from Bassein?
If you hold a cover or strike from Bassein that does not match any figure above, submit it below. Approved additions appear here as new entries in the census — every submission is reviewed first.
Same presidency
Other post offices in the Bombay Presidency
Explore the pre-1854 postal history of other Bombay Presidency post offices — each page lists its recorded handstruck markings, dates and surviving covers.