What is the Poona HG 12 handstamp?

Poona HG 12 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Poona (modern Pune) in the Bombay Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1845 to 1849. The "HG 12" 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 Poona HG 12?

Poona HG 12 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 4 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.

What does a Poona pre stamp cover with HG 12 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Poona 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 12. 4 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 Poona HG 12 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1845–1849). 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.

Poona HG 12 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1845–1849, Red

Bombay Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Poona HG 12

Handstamp

Colour & date: Red1845–1849
Rarity: Common
Note: No final h
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 173
Figure: 12
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 11 All Poona HG 12A →

Census

Census records

4 covers recorded

4 pre-1854 covers bearing the Poona HG 12 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-2501

2 February 1845

COV-4115

13 May 1845

Doolia - unrecorded PO and unrecorded handstamp. Entire cover addressed from Poona having unrecorde handstamp of All India Type "Poona/ 1845 May13/ Paid" on May 13th 1845 addressed to the collector of Doolia with the All India Type "Doolia/ Paid" handstamp which is also unrecorded posted on May 13th 1845 and reached Doolia on May 16th 1845. Doolia Paid stamp is also used as arriving delivary handstamp.

COV-858

6 January 1846

1846 : H.G.1 : Letter from POONA to KALUDGHEE, dated 6th January. Postage prepaid 4 as. KALUDGHEE is a village in BAGALKOT Taluka. VIJAPUR District. It was formerly the Chief station the District and cantonment.

COV-2300

3 August 1846

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About this mark

The Poona HG 12 handstamp

Poona, the headquarters of Poona District, is situated 18°31' N and 73°51' E, 1850 feet above sea level, and 119 miles south-east of Bombay. In 1763 the Nizam Ali of Hyderabad sacked the town. In the struggle between successive Peshwas, and their subordinates Sindhia and Holkar, Poona suffered many vicissitudes, until 1802, by the provisions of the Treaty of Bassein, the Peshwa allowed the British subsidiary force to be stationed there. After the defeat of the Peshwa in 1818, Poonah became the headquarters of a British District, as the principal cantonment in the Deccan. •

Poona HG 12 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Poona — the present-day Pune — in the Bombay Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1845 to 1849. Known strikes are in red. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 12".

4 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 poona pre stamp covers, poona postal history or "Poona HG12" material can compare HG 12 across every office or browse the rest of the Poona marks.

No final h

Frequently asked

What is the Poona HG 12 handstamp?: Poona HG 12 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Poona (modern Pune) in the Bombay Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1845 to 1849. The "HG 12" 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 Poona HG 12?: Poona HG 12 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 4 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does a Poona pre stamp cover with HG 12 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Poona 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 12. 4 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 Poona HG 12 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1845–1849). 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 Poona

16 marks

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

View all Poona 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: Poona HG 12, Poona HG12, Poona Giles 12, Pune postal history, Poona handstamp, Poona pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Poona HG 12 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bombay/poona/hg-12 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026