What is the Sittara HG 1 handstamp?

Sittara HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Sittara (modern Satara) in the Bombay Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1842 to 1850. The "HG 1" 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 Sittara HG 1?

Sittara HG 1 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 Sittara pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Sittara 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 1. 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 Sittara HG 1 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1842–1850). 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.

Sittara HG 1 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1842–1850, Red

Bombay Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Sittara HG 1

Handstamp

Colour & date: Red1842–1850
Rarity: Common
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 195
Figure: 1
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

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Census

Census records

3 covers recorded

3 pre-1854 covers bearing the Sittara HG 1 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-320

26 February 1845

India, Sittara, 1845, "SITTARA/Paid" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1). Clear strike with manuscript "26 Feby 1845" date and "7as" rate markings on folded letter to London, England, sender's directive "Via Marseilles, Per Steamer 1st March 1845" , red "INDIA" oval handstamp, London (Apr. 4) arrival backstamps, manuscript rate markings, Very Fine, this cover was carried on the Atalanta from Bombay to Suez, then by Styx from Alexandria to Malta, and finally Acheron from Malta to Marseilles

COV-3616

14 November 1848

India 1848 Pre-stamp Rare entire Cover from Sittara (Giles #1 Bombay Presidency) to London, England, via Marseilles, charged 2/3d upon arrival.

COV-2480

7 May 1850

1850 Sittara – Salisbury overland entire, with Sittara Giles 1 "SATTARA/Paid" hand stamp, date "7/5/50" & rate "2as" (paid 2A inland postage to Bombay for a letter between ¼ and 1 tolah, travelling 200–300 miles; the distance from Sittara to Bombay was 250 miles) applied in manuscript. At Bombay, Giles G3 "BOMBAY/GPO" & SD6 "INDIA" port transit marks applied, then sent to Aden via EIC steamer SESOSTRIS on 10 May, onward to Suez via P&O steamer HINDOSTAN, travelled overland to Alexandria, and from there sent to Southampton via P&O steamer INDUS on 20th June. Finally delivered at Salisbury via London on the same day. Bearing "1/" postage via Southampton applied in black and collected from the recipient

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About this mark

The Sittara HG 1 handstamp

Sittara, headquarters of Sittara District, Bombay Presidency, near the confluence of the Kistna and Vena Rivers, is situated 17°41' N and 74° E. The strong fort, after a short resistance, fell to the British, at the end of the war with the Peshwa in 1818.

Sittara HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Sittara — the present-day Satara — in the Bombay Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1842 to 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 1".

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 sittara pre stamp covers, sittara postal history or "Sittara HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Sittara marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Sittara HG 1 handstamp?: Sittara HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Sittara (modern Satara) in the Bombay Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1842 to 1850. The "HG 1" 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 Sittara HG 1?: Sittara HG 1 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 Sittara pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Sittara 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 1. 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 Sittara HG 1 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1842–1850). 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 Sittara

3 marks

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

View all Sittara 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: Sittara HG 1, Sittara HG1, Sittara Giles 1, Satara postal history, Sittara handstamp, Sittara pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Sittara HG 1 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bombay/sittara/hg-1 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026