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Hand Struck Stamps
Poona HG 13 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1845–1868, Black

Bombay Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Poona HG 13

Colour & date
Black1845–1868
Rarity
Common
Note
No final h
Catalogue
1989 Catalogue · p. 173
Figure
13
Submitted by
D. Hammond Giles

Census

Census records

3 covers recorded

3 pre-1854 covers bearing the Poona HG 13 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

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About this mark

The Poona HG 13 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 13 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 1868. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 13".

3 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 HG13" material can compare HG 13 across every office or browse the rest of the Poona marks.

No final h

Frequently asked

What is the Poona HG 13 handstamp?
Poona HG 13 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Poona (modern Pune) in the Bombay Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1845 to 1868. The "HG 13" 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 Poona HG 13?
Poona HG 13 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 3 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does a Poona pre stamp cover with HG 13 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 13. 3 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 13 cover?
Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1845–1868). 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 →

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Also searched as: Poona HG 13, Poona HG13, Poona Giles 13, Pune postal history, Poona handstamp, Poona pre stamp cover.

How to cite

Poona HG 13handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bombay/poona/hg-13 (accessed 11 August 2026).

Updated: 11 Aug 2026