What is the Bombay HG 15 handstamp?

Bombay HG 15 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Bombay (modern Mumbai) in the Bombay Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1834 to 1837. The "HG 15" 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 Bombay HG 15?

Bombay HG 15 is graded "Scarce" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 6 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.

What does a Bombay pre stamp cover with HG 15 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Bombay 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 15. 6 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 Bombay HG 15 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1834–1837). 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.

Bombay HG 15 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1834–1837, Black

Bombay Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Bombay HG 15

Handstamp

Colour & date: Black1834–1837
Rarity: Scarce
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 36
Figure: 15
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 14 All Bombay HG 16 →

Census

Census records

6 covers recorded

6 pre-1854 covers bearing the Bombay HG 15 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-2614

27 March 1823

COV-1971

4 August 1834

1834 (1 Aug.) entire letter fiom Tabriz, Persia showing, on reverse, oval-framed "eo^4say/posr Nr pAro" (HG 15 though with definite signs of a printed date below), the contents refer to historical facts concerningBritish Forces in Persia at the time. An interesting cover. Photo

COV-2361

1836

LATER LONDON MAIL TO BOMBAY, CALCUTTA OR MERUT - ONE PREPAID 13s/- VIA FRANCE; 1836 E/EL to Bombay/Merut with v. fine oval-framed “BOMBAY/POST NT. PAID” (HG15; scarce) or v. fine octagon-boxed “MERUT/Bg: Pg:” (HG4; only known 1835-37) both across th join; plus Aug. 1839/1857 prepaid pair to Calcutta/Bombay at “13/-” (via France; with red oval-framed London “P-D”) or “6[d]” (env. with several enclosures) rates. (4 covers) PHOTO - see page 67.

COV-836

17 November 1836

1836 : H. G. 2: Letter from LONDON [17 Nov.] to Capt. S. Barbe Brown, 7th Regiment, Native Infantry, BOMBAY, & redirected to SHOLAPOOR. Since no postage up to SHOLAPOOR from BOMBAY[7as.] was paid, necessary post marks were applied.

COV-2630

5 January 1837

COV-1681

1 May 1837

Bombay: 1837 (1 May) entire letter from London showing, on reverse, manuscript forwarding agent cachet of Ritchie Steuart and Co. at Bombay together with partially legible strikes of the oval-framed "BOMBAY/POST Nt PAID" (HG 15) and rare framed "INLAND/STEAMER/POSTAGE/BOMBAY" (HG SR2), together with fine framed "STEAM POSTAGE/INLAND DO/TOTAL" (HG SR44, the earliest recorded date of use). Photo.

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About this mark

The Bombay HG 15 handstamp

Mumbai, also known as Bombay, is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra — the financial capital and most populous city of India, on the Konkan coast of the Arabian Sea.

Bombay HG 15 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Bombay — the present-day Mumbai — in the Bombay Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1834 to 1837. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 15".

6 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 "Scarce" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for bombay pre stamp covers, bombay postal history or "Bombay HG15" material can compare HG 15 across every office or browse the rest of the Bombay marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Bombay HG 15 handstamp?: Bombay HG 15 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Bombay (modern Mumbai) in the Bombay Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1834 to 1837. The "HG 15" 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 Bombay HG 15?: Bombay HG 15 is graded "Scarce" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 6 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does a Bombay pre stamp cover with HG 15 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Bombay 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 15. 6 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 Bombay HG 15 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1834–1837). 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 Bombay

109 marks

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

View all Bombay 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: Bombay HG 15, Bombay HG15, Bombay Giles 15, Mumbai postal history, Bombay handstamp, Bombay pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Bombay HG 15 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bombay/bombay/hg-15 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026