Madras Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp
Arcot HG 3
- Date Span
- 1844-48
- Colour
- Red
- Rarity
- Common
- Catalogue
- 1989 Catalogue · p. 16
- Figure
- 3
- Submitted by
- D. Hammond Giles
Census
Census records
0 covers recordedNo pre stamp cover bearing the Arcot HG 3 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.
About this mark
The Arcot HG 3 handstamp
Headquarters of the North Arcot District, Madras Presidency, situated 12°54' N and 79°20' E, on the right bank of the Palar R. Formerly the capital of the powerful Nawabs of the Carnatic, but changed hands frequently. First captured by Clive in 1751, surrendered to the French in 1758, and included in the cession of the Carnatic to the British in 1801.
Arcot HG 3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Arcot in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1844 to 1848. Known strikes are in red. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 3".
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 arcot pre stamp covers, arcot postal history or "Arcot HG3" material can compare HG 3 across every office or browse the rest of the Arcot marks.
Frequently asked
- What is the Arcot HG 3 handstamp?
- Arcot HG 3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Arcot in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1844 to 1848. The "HG 3" 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 Arcot HG 3?
- Arcot HG 3 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 an Arcot pre stamp cover with HG 3 look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Arcot 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 3. 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 an Arcot HG 3 cover?
- Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1844-48). 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 Arcot
5 marks5 other pre-1854 postal markings of Arcot are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
Suggest a correction
Spotted a wrong date, colour or rarity? Propose a change — every suggestion is reviewed before it is applied.
Also searched as: Arcot HG 3, Arcot HG3, Arcot Giles 3, Arcot handstamp, Arcot pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Arcot HG 3 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/arcot/hg-3 (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026