Reference Guide
Giles HG Numbers Explained
If you’ve seen auction descriptions like “Calcutta HG 1a” or “Madras HG 3” and wondered what the numbers mean, this guide explains the Hammond Giles catalogue system — the standard reference for identifying pre-1854 Indian handstruck postal markings, used by collectors and auction houses worldwide.
What does HG stand for?
HG stands for Hammond Giles, the compiler of the catalogue The Handstruck Postage Stamps, Envelopes and Letter Sheets of India. Derek Hammond Giles published the final edition in 1989, with a supplement by Virendra Bansal in 1993. The catalogue assigns a sequential number to each handstamp at every post office across Bengal, Bombay, Madras, the North-Western Provinces and Punjab.
How to read a Giles number
A Giles reference always has two parts: the post office name and the number. The number is prefixed by HG (or a special prefix like SD, SR or MX). For example:
- Madras HG 1 — the first handstamp listed for the Madras post office
- Calcutta HG 1a — the first handstamp for Calcutta, variant “a” (the lowercase letter indicates a sub-variant of the same basic design)
- Bangalore HG 1 — the first handstamp for Bangalore (a completely different mark from Madras HG 1 — numbering is per-office)
The numbering is per-office, not global — HG 1 at Madras is unrelated to HG 1 at Calcutta. The number follows the order in which Giles listed the marks in his catalogue, which is roughly chronological but not strictly so.
Special prefixes: SD, SR and MX
In addition to the standard HG numbering, the Giles catalogue uses special prefixes for certain categories of marking:
| Prefix | Full name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| HG | Hammond Giles | Regular post office handstamps — datestamps, “Post Paid”, “Bearing” marks and others |
| SD | Ship Despatch | Marks applied to letters sent outward by ship from an Indian port |
| SR | Ship Receipt | Marks applied to letters received by ship at an Indian port |
| MX | Madras Receiving House | Sub-office marks from mail collection points in the Madras Presidency |
| G | General Post Office | Marks specifically from the GPO (separate from branch office HG marks) |
These prefixes replace “HG” in the reference — so “Madras SD 2” is a Ship Despatch mark, not a regular handstamp. “Madras MX 1” is a Receiving House mark.
Beyond the catalogue
Since the Giles catalogue was published in 1989, collectors and dealers have identified additional markings not recorded by Giles. This site catalogues both the original Giles entries and these newer community discoveries — currently 2,019 handstamps from 438 offices, with 4,431 covers recorded with scans and provenance.
Compare a figure across every office
The same Giles number was struck at many different offices. Each figure now has its own page listing every office that used it — see HG 1, HG 2 or HG 3 — or read the search guide to find any figure, office or mark type in seconds with ⌘K.
Frequently asked questions
- What does HG stand for in Indian philately?
- HG stands for Hammond Giles, the compiler of the standard catalogue of Indian handstruck postal markings. Derek Hammond Giles published the final edition in 1989, cataloguing every known pre-1854 handstamp used at post offices across British India.
- How do I read a Giles number like 'Madras HG 1'?
- A Giles reference has two parts: the post office name and a sequential number. 'Madras HG 1' means the first handstamp listed for the Madras post office in the Giles catalogue. The numbering is per-office — HG 1 at Madras is a completely different mark from HG 1 at Calcutta or Bangalore.
- What do the prefixes SD, SR and MX mean?
- SD stands for Ship Despatch (marks applied to letters sent by ship), SR stands for Ship Receipt (marks applied to letters received by ship), and MX identifies Madras Receiving House marks from sub-offices. These prefixes replace 'HG' in the reference — so 'Madras SD 2' is a Ship Despatch mark, not a regular handstamp.
- Are Giles numbers used at auctions?
- Yes. Auction houses worldwide use Giles numbers to identify specific Indian handstruck postal markings. A lot described as 'Calcutta HG 1a' tells collectors exactly which marking appears on the cover. The Giles catalogue remains the standard reference nearly four decades after publication.
- What happens when a new marking is discovered that Giles didn't catalogue?
- Markings discovered after the Giles catalogue was published are assigned new numbers following the same system, or given provisional designations. This site records both the original Giles entries and newer community discoveries.