What is the Bhawndy HG 1 handstamp?

Bhawndy HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Bhawndy (modern Bhiwandi) in the Bombay Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1838 to 1858. The "HG 1" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in red.

How rare is Bhawndy HG 1?

Bhawndy HG 1 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 2 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.

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

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Bhawndy 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. 2 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 Bhawndy 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 (1838–1858). 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.

Bhawndy HG 1 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1838–1858, Red

Bombay Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Bhawndy HG 1

Handstamp All India common handstamp

Colour & date: Red1838–1858
Rarity: Common
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 32
Figure: 1
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

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Census

Census records

2 covers recorded

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

COV-2676

7 February 1858

India, 1854, 2a Green (5; SG 31). Tight to touching margins, used with 1854, 1a Red, Die I (4; SG 12) and 1856, 4a Black (16; SG 45), 1a margins to touching, 4a with perfs cut all around (possibly an act to imitate the 1854 Lithographs), all tied by bold strikes of barred "10" cancels with red framed "BHRWNDY, Paid" handstamp and manuscript "7-2-58" date added on uprated 1a Brown on Blue entire, addressed to Bath, England, sender's directive "via Marseilles", red framed "INDIA PAID" handstamp, Bombay and London (Mar. 6) transit, the latter also tying 1a and 4a, and Bath arrival datestamps, cover with small edge tear at top, Very Fine and unusual use of an uprated entire

COV-362

India, Bhawndy, ca. 1830s, "BHAWNDY/Paid" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1). Faint but legible strike on back of ca. 1830s petite native cover to Delhi, Delhi (Oct. 6) arrival backstamp, opening flaw to front panel, Fine and scarce

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About this mark

The Bhawndy HG 1 handstamp

Bhawndy (Bhiwandi, Bhewndy) is a town in Thana District, Bombay Presidency, situated 19°18' N and 73°3' E, 29 miles north of Bombay and 1202 miles from Calcutta, Rice is the main local product, and there is the largest rice-husking mill in the Presidency here.

Bhawndy HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Bhawndy — the present-day Bhiwandi — in the Bombay Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1838 to 1858. Known strikes are in red. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 1".

2 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 "Common" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for bhawndy pre stamp covers, bhawndy postal history or "Bhawndy HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Bhawndy marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Bhawndy HG 1 handstamp?: Bhawndy HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Bhawndy (modern Bhiwandi) in the Bombay Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1838 to 1858. The "HG 1" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in red.
How rare is Bhawndy HG 1?: Bhawndy HG 1 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 2 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does a Bhawndy pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Bhawndy 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. 2 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 Bhawndy 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 (1838–1858). 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 Bhawndy

1 mark

One other pre-1854 postal marking of Bhawndy is recorded in the census. Compare it against this mark to place your cover.

Bhawndy HG 2handstampBlack1838

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Suggest a correction

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Also searched as: Bhawndy HG 1, Bhawndy HG1, Bhawndy Giles 1, Bhiwandi postal history, Bhawndy handstamp, Bhawndy pre stamp cover.

How to cite

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

Updated: 10 Aug 2026