Madras Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp
Egmore HG 1
- Colour & date
- Black1823
- Rarity
- Scarce
- Note
- Used with unframed "POST OFFICE"
- Catalogue
- 2000 Supplement · p. 8
- Figure
- 1
- Submitted by
- D. Hammond Giles
Census
Census records
0 covers recordedNo pre stamp cover bearing the Egmore HG 1 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 Egmore HG 1 handstamp
Egmore is a historic neighbourhood of Chennai on the northern bank of the Cooum River — an important residential, commercial and transport hub.
Egmore HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Egmore in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1823. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 2000 Supplement, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 1".
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 "Scarce" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for egmore pre stamp covers, egmore postal history or "Egmore HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Egmore marks.
Used with unframed "POST OFFICE"
Frequently asked
- What is the Egmore HG 1 handstamp?
- Egmore HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Egmore in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1823. The "HG 1" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in black.
- How rare is Egmore HG 1?
- Egmore HG 1 is graded "Scarce" 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 Egmore pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Egmore 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 1. 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 Egmore HG 1 cover?
- Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1823). 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.
Suggest a correction
Spotted a wrong date, colour or rarity? Propose a change — every suggestion is reviewed before it is applied.
Also searched as: Egmore HG 1, Egmore HG1, Egmore Giles 1, Egmore handstamp, Egmore pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Egmore HG 1 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/egmore/hg-1 (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026