What is the Bangalore HG 14 handstamp?

Bangalore HG 14 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Bangalore (modern Bengaluru) in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1853 to 1859. The "HG 14" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes occur in red and black.

How rare is Bangalore HG 14?

Bangalore HG 14 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 5 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.

What does a Bangalore pre stamp cover with HG 14 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Bangalore 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 14. 5 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 Bangalore HG 14 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1853–1859). 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.

Bangalore HG 14 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1853–1859, Red

Madras Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Bangalore HG 14

Handstamp Mysore State All India common handstamp

Colours & dates: Red1853–1859
Black1855
Rarity: Common
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 24
Figure: 14
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 13 All Bangalore HG 15 →

Census

Census records

5 covers recorded

5 pre-1854 covers bearing the Bangalore HG 14 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-3653

1853

India 1853 prestamp cover from Bangalore to Madras featuring handstruck postage. Includes backstamp 'Bangalore/16-7-53/Paid 2A.' in orange, GPO Madras boxed stamp in red, and additional markings.

COV-3766

23 July 1853

India 1853 cover from Bangalore to Madras with handstruck postage. Features 'Bangalore/23-7-53/Paid 2a' in orange, GPO/1853 Jy.25 red stamp, RG.House/No.1 boxed stamp.

COV-4168

19 March 1856

COV-4160

9 January 1858

SPECTACULAR 4as-RATE COVER EX BANGALORE TO G.B. WITH INDIA QV 1856 ½a BLUE BLOCK OF EIGHT; Impressive 9 Jan. 1858 env. (a few short tears affect both sides, but clear of stamps; old hinges at top of address side) prepaid from "BANGALORE" (v. fine red boxed "PAID" mark with ms date - tear at top left - beside stamps on reverse) to Woolwich ranked on reverse with a good Block of Eight 1856 ½a Blues (tiny wrinkles at left and a couple of very light stain marks at lower left) tied by light dotted diamond "C/12" numerals, also having a fine red serpentine-frame "TOO LATE", v. fine red "MADRAS" transit cds and fine boxed blue-black "RG. HOUSE/No.1" nearby. On the front there is a very fine red crescent-framed Bangalore "INDIA PAID" and a red London "PAID" arrival cds (20 Feb.).

COV-4161

Rare C/11-Bangalore Receiving House 1-1856 July 3rd-Native cover from Bangalore to Madras with two half anna stamps with perfect twin cancellations of C/tt with red ink Rectangle Bangalore//Paid cancellation, Black RH 1 House (receiving House No 1) cancellation with Black AM delivery and GPO cancellation of Madras.

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About this mark

The Bangalore HG 14 handstamp

Bangalore City, the seat of government of the Mysore State, and headquarters of the Bangalore Brigade of the Indian Army, situated 12°58' N, and 77°35' E, 219 miles from Madras, and 692 miles from Bombay. The fort, first constructed of mud, was enlarged and built in stone by Haider Ali in 1761, captured by the British in 1791, subsequently dismantled by Tipu Sultan, but restored in 1799.

Bangalore HG 14 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Bangalore — the present-day Bengaluru — in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1853 to 1859. Known strikes occur in red and black. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 14".

5 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 bangalore pre stamp covers, bangalore postal history or "Bangalore HG14" material can compare HG 14 across every office or browse the rest of the Bangalore marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Bangalore HG 14 handstamp?: Bangalore HG 14 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Bangalore (modern Bengaluru) in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1853 to 1859. The "HG 14" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes occur in red and black.
How rare is Bangalore HG 14?: Bangalore HG 14 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 5 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does a Bangalore pre stamp cover with HG 14 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Bangalore 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 14. 5 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 Bangalore HG 14 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1853–1859). 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 Bangalore

18 marks

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

View all Bangalore marks and postal history →

Suggest a correction

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Also searched as: Bangalore HG 14, Bangalore HG14, Bangalore Giles 14, Bengaluru postal history, Bangalore handstamp, Bangalore pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Bangalore HG 14 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/bangalore/hg-14 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026