Census
Census records
0 covers recordedNo pre stamp cover bearing the Mhow HG 4 handstamp has been recorded yet. If you hold one, submit it below.
No covers bearing this mark have been recorded yet. If you hold one, your submission — once reviewed — will appear here.
About this mark
The Mhow HG 4 handstamp
Mhow was a British cantonment in the Indore State, Central India, situated 22°33' N and 75°46' E, on the southern boundary of the Malwa plateau. It was founded by Sir John Malcolm in 1818 under the Treaty of Mandasor.
Mhow HG 4 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Mhow in the Bombay Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1850. Known strikes are in red. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 4".
No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example. On the strength of that count the mark is graded "Common" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for mhow pre stamp covers, mhow postal history or "Mhow HG4" material can compare HG 4 across every office or browse the rest of the Mhow marks.
Frequently asked
- What is the Mhow HG 4 handstamp?
- Mhow HG 4 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Mhow in the Bombay Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1850. The "HG 4" 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 Mhow HG 4?
- Mhow HG 4 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example.
- What does a Mhow pre stamp cover with HG 4 look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Mhow 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 4. No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example. Each census record on this page links to full cover images, dates and auction provenance.
- How do I identify or submit a Mhow HG 4 cover?
- Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1850). 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 Mhow
5 marks5 other pre-1854 postal markings of Mhow are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
Suggest a correction
Spotted a wrong date, colour or rarity? Propose a change — every suggestion is reviewed before it is applied.
Also searched as: Mhow HG 4, Mhow HG4, Mhow Giles 4, Mhow handstamp, Mhow pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Mhow HG 4 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bombay/mhow/hg-4 (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026