What is the Kirkee HG 1A handstamp?

Kirkee HG 1A is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Kirkee (modern Khadki) in the Bombay Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1835. The "HG 1A" 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 Kirkee HG 1A?

Kirkee HG 1A has 1 example recorded in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, with images and provenance.

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

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Kirkee 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 1A. A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, 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 Kirkee HG 1A cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1835). 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 Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Kirkee HG 1A

Handstamp

Colour & date: Red1835
Rarity: 1 example recorded
Note: "KIRKEE" and "POST PAID" Handstamps
Figure: 1A
Submitted by: Gowtham BJ

← HG 1 All Kirkee HG 2 →

Census

Census records

1 cover recorded

1 pre-1854 cover bearing the Kirkee HG 1A handstamp is recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-2225

23 March 1835

India, Kirkee, 1836, "KIRKEE" and "POST PAID" Handstamps (Giles Unrecorded). Clear strikes in bright red watery ink on back of folded letter datelined "Kirkee 23 March 1835", addressed to Bromley, England, framed India Letter and "TP Rate 2" handstamps, London (Aug. 6) transit backstamp, cover with severe faults including severe tears affecting all markings and heavy wrinkling, Fine, despite the obvious condition shortfalls, this predates any recorded postal markings in Kirkee by three years (Giles records 1838) and thought to be the only recorded example of this early postal marking

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About this mark

The Kirkee HG 1A handstamp

Kirkee is a town in the Poona District, Bombay Presidency, situated 18°34' N and 73°51' E, 116 miles south-east of Bombay and 4 north-west of Poona. On Nov. 1817 the first of three battles fought near Kirkee led to the collapse of the Maratha power.

Kirkee HG 1A is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Kirkee — the present-day Khadki — in the Bombay Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1835. Known strikes are in red. Its "HG 1A" designation is the figure number assigned in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India.

A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, with images and provenance. On the strength of that count the mark is graded "1 example recorded" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for kirkee pre stamp covers, kirkee postal history or "Kirkee HG1A" material can compare HG 1A across every office or browse the rest of the Kirkee marks.

"KIRKEE" and "POST PAID" Handstamps

Frequently asked

What is the Kirkee HG 1A handstamp?: Kirkee HG 1A is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Kirkee (modern Khadki) in the Bombay Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1835. The "HG 1A" 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 Kirkee HG 1A?: Kirkee HG 1A has 1 example recorded in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, with images and provenance.
What does a Kirkee pre stamp cover with HG 1A look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Kirkee 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 1A. A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, 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 Kirkee HG 1A cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1835). 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 Kirkee

6 marks

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

View all Kirkee 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: Kirkee HG 1A, Kirkee HG1A, Kirkee Giles 1A, Khadki postal history, Kirkee handstamp, Kirkee pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Kirkee HG 1A — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bombay/kirkee/hg-1a (accessed 21 August 2026).

Updated: 21 Aug 2026