Madras Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp
Combaconum HG 4
- Colour & date
- Red1855
- Rarity
- Common
- Figure
- 4
- Submitted by
- Gowtham BJ
Census
Census records
7 covers recorded7 pre-1854 covers bearing the Combaconum HG 4 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.
About this mark
The Combaconum HG 4 handstamp
Combaconum is situated 10°58' N and 79°22' E, in Tanjore District, Madras Presidency, on the banks of the Cauvery River. It is one of the oldest places in South India, and had a District Court as early as 1806, and was the headquarters of the Roman Catholic bishop of the French Mission.
Combaconum HG 4 is a early Indian handstruck postal marking of the post office at Combaconum — the present-day Kumbakonam — in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1855. 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.
7 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 combaconum pre stamp covers, combaconum postal history or "Combaconum HG4" material can compare HG 4 across every office or browse the rest of the Combaconum marks.
Frequently asked
- What is the Combaconum HG 4 handstamp?
- Combaconum HG 4 is a early Indian handstruck postal marking of Combaconum (modern Kumbakonam) in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1855. 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 Combaconum HG 4?
- Combaconum HG 4 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 7 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
- What does a Combaconum pre stamp cover with HG 4 look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Combaconum 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. 7 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 Combaconum 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 (1855). 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 Combaconum
3 marks3 other pre-1854 postal markings of Combaconum 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: Combaconum HG 4, Combaconum HG4, Combaconum Giles 4, Kumbakonam postal history, Combaconum handstamp, Combaconum pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Combaconum HG 4 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/combaconum/hg-4 (accessed 13 November 2026).
Updated: 13 Nov 2026