What is the Chicacole HG 4 handstamp?

Chicacole HG 4 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Chicacole (modern Srikakulam) in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1837. The "HG 4" 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 Chicacole HG 4?

Chicacole HG 4 is graded "Rare" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, with images and provenance.

What does a Chicacole pre stamp cover with HG 4 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Chicacole 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 4. A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, 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 Chicacole HG 4 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1837). 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.

Madras Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Chicacole HG 4

Handstamp

Colour & date: Red1837
Rarity: Rare
Note: Found in Military Postmaster's postal record of letters
Figure: 4
Submitted by: Gowtham BJ

← HG 3 All Chicacole HG 5 →

Census

Census records

1 cover recorded

1 pre-1854 cover bearing the Chicacole HG 4 handstamp is recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-538

1837

1837-38 Military Postmaster's postal record of letters posted with postmarks impressed within the notebook reflecting addressee, place of posting and cost of postage; the postmarks comprise unframed "chicacole/post paid" in red (unlisted by Hammond Giles), unframed "chicacole/post not paid" in black (unlisted), "chicacole/Bearing" (unlisted), "chicacole/Paid" in red, "vizianagram/Paid" in red (unlisted), "payakerowpet/Paid" in red-black (unlisted), "rajamundry/Paid", oval-framed "rajamundry/free" in red, "ellore/Paid", "comercolly/Paid", "monigalah/Paid" (unlisted), "secunderabad/Paid" d.s. in red, "secunderabad/Bearing" d.s. and "jaulnah/Paid" d.s. in red, most with multiple strikes ranging from poor to fine. A most remarkable record.

Compare HG 4 across every office →

About this mark

The Chicacole HG 4 handstamp

Chicacole, in the Ganjam District, Madras Presidency, is situated 18°17' N and 83°55' E, on the left bank of the Langula River, 4 miles from its mouth, and on the trunk road 567 from Madras and 422 miles from Calcutta. An important military station of the E.I.C. until the 1860s, and, at one time, famous for its muslins.

Chicacole HG 4 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Chicacole — the present-day Srikakulam — in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1837. Known strikes are in red. Its "HG 4" designation is the figure number assigned in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India.

A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, with images and provenance. On the strength of that count the mark is graded "Rare" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for chicacole pre stamp covers, chicacole postal history or "Chicacole HG4" material can compare HG 4 across every office or browse the rest of the Chicacole marks.

Found in Military Postmaster's postal record of letters

Frequently asked

What is the Chicacole HG 4 handstamp?: Chicacole HG 4 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Chicacole (modern Srikakulam) in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1837. The "HG 4" 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 Chicacole HG 4?: Chicacole HG 4 is graded "Rare" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, with images and provenance.
What does a Chicacole pre stamp cover with HG 4 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Chicacole 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 4. A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, 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 Chicacole HG 4 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1837). 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 Chicacole

4 marks

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

View all Chicacole 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: Chicacole HG 4, Chicacole HG4, Chicacole Giles 4, Srikakulam postal history, Chicacole handstamp, Chicacole pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Chicacole HG 4 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/chicacole/hg-4 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026