What is the Poona HG 15 handstamp?

Poona HG 15 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Poona (modern Pune) in the Bombay Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1852. The "HG 15" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in purple.

How rare is Poona HG 15?

Poona HG 15 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 Poona pre stamp cover with HG 15 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 15. 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 Poona HG 15 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1852). 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

Poona HG 15

Handstamp

Colour & date: Purple1852
Rarity: Common
Catalogue: 1996 Supplement · p. 7
Figure: 15
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 14 All Poona

Census

Census records

0 covers recorded

No pre stamp cover bearing the Poona HG 15 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.

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About this mark

The Poona HG 15 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 15 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Poona — the present-day Pune — in the Bombay Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1852. Known strikes are in purple. It is listed in 1996 Supplement, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 15".

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 poona pre stamp covers, poona postal history or "Poona HG15" material can compare HG 15 across every office or browse the rest of the Poona marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Poona HG 15 handstamp?: Poona HG 15 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Poona (modern Pune) in the Bombay Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1852. The "HG 15" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in purple.
How rare is Poona HG 15?: Poona HG 15 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 Poona pre stamp cover with HG 15 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 15. 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 Poona HG 15 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1852). 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 15, Poona HG15, Poona Giles 15, Pune postal history, Poona handstamp, Poona pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Poona HG 15 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bombay/poona/hg-15 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026