What is the Ellore HG 2 handstamp?

Ellore HG 2 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Ellore (modern Eluru) in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1851. The "HG 2" 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 Ellore HG 2?

Ellore HG 2 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 2 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.

What does an Ellore pre stamp cover with HG 2 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Ellore 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 2. 2 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 an Ellore HG 2 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1851). 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.

Ellore HG 2 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1851, Red

Madras Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Ellore HG 2

Handstamp All India common handstamp

Colour & date: Red1851
Rarity: Common
Catalogue: 1993 Supplement · p. 14
Figure: 2
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 1 All Ellore HG 3 →

Census

Census records

2 covers recorded

2 pre-1854 covers bearing the Ellore HG 2 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-546

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.

COV-4073

6 May 1851

Entire posted from Ellore with "Ellore / Paid" HG1 All India type handstamp addressed to Guntoor with HG3 "Guntoor/ Paid" handstamp with postage of 1 anna paid on 6th May 1851.

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About this mark

The Ellore HG 2 handstamp

Eluru, historically known as Ellore, is a city and the district headquarters of Eluru district in Andhra Pradesh.

Ellore HG 2 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Ellore — the present-day Eluru — in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1851. Known strikes are in red. It is listed in 1993 Supplement, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 2".

2 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 ellore pre stamp covers, ellore postal history or "Ellore HG2" material can compare HG 2 across every office or browse the rest of the Ellore marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Ellore HG 2 handstamp?: Ellore HG 2 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Ellore (modern Eluru) in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1851. The "HG 2" 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 Ellore HG 2?: Ellore HG 2 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 2 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does an Ellore pre stamp cover with HG 2 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Ellore 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 2. 2 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 an Ellore HG 2 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1851). 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 Ellore

2 marks

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

View all Ellore 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: Ellore HG 2, Ellore HG2, Ellore Giles 2, Eluru postal history, Ellore handstamp, Ellore pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Ellore HG 2 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/ellore/hg-2 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026