What is the Bombay SD12 handstamp?

Bombay SD12 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Bombay (modern Mumbai) in the Bombay Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1852 to 1856. The "SD12" 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 SD12?

Bombay SD12 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 Bombay pre stamp cover with SD12 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 SD12. 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 Bombay SD12 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1852–1856). 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 SD12 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1852–1856, Black

Bombay Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Bombay SD12

Handstamp

Colour & date: Black1852–1856
Rarity: Common
Note: Sea rate 2 annas
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 37
Figure: SD12
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

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Census

Census records

2 covers recorded

2 pre-1854 covers bearing the Bombay SD12 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-1475

10 May 1853

COV-3495

1856

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About this mark

The Bombay SD12 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 SD12 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 1852 to 1856. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "SD12".

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 bombay pre stamp covers, bombay postal history or "Bombay SD12" material can compare SD12 across every office or browse the rest of the Bombay marks.

Sea rate 2 annas

Frequently asked

What is the Bombay SD12 handstamp?: Bombay SD12 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Bombay (modern Mumbai) in the Bombay Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1852 to 1856. The "SD12" 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 SD12?: Bombay SD12 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 Bombay pre stamp cover with SD12 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 SD12. 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 Bombay SD12 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1852–1856). 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 SD12, Bombay Giles SD12, Mumbai postal history, Bombay handstamp, Bombay pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Bombay SD12 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bombay/bombay/sd12 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026