What is the French Rocks HG 2 handstamp?

French Rocks HG 2 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of French Rocks (modern Pandavapura) in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1852. The "HG 2" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in blue.

How rare is French Rocks HG 2?

French Rocks HG 2 has 1 example recorded 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 French Rocks pre stamp cover with HG 2 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from French Rocks 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. 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 French Rocks 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 (1852). 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

French Rocks HG 2

Handstamp

Colour & date: Blue1852
Rarity: 1 example recorded
Figure: 2
Submitted by: siegelauctions

← HG 1 All French Rocks MN 1 →

Census

Census records

1 cover recorded

1 pre-1854 cover bearing the French Rocks HG 2 handstamp is recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-5340

7 February 1852

India, Bangalore, 1852, "BANGALORE/1852 March ?/Bearing" Framed Datestamp (Giles 10). Clear strike in blue on back applied on arrival of cover to Madras, forwarded to French Rocks and Bangalore, sender's directive "overland via Marseilles", cover originating in Scotland, two strikes of "Canonrie FEB 7 1852" framed despatch datestamp and red manuscript "Paid 1/10" , Carlisle (Feb. 7), London (Feb. 8), Bombay, Madras (Mar. 25), and blue French Rocks (Mar. 20, Giles 1) transit and arrival backstamps, cover with understandable edgewear and minor wrinkling, Very Fine, the Bangalore marking in blue is very scarce

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About this mark

The French Rocks HG 2 handstamp

A small rock In the Trichinopoly District, Madras Presidency, about a mile from Trichinopoly City, situated 10°49' N and 78°43' E. It has two prominences with a sadd le between. In the siege of Trichinopoly by Chanda Sahib and the French, the latter occupied the rock and mounted on it two 18-pounders; hence its name.

French Rocks HG 2 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at French Rocks — the present-day Pandavapura — in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1852. Known strikes are in blue. Its "HG 2" 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 "1 example recorded" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for french rocks pre stamp covers, french rocks postal history or "French Rocks HG2" material can compare HG 2 across every office or browse the rest of the French Rocks marks.

Frequently asked

What is the French Rocks HG 2 handstamp?: French Rocks HG 2 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of French Rocks (modern Pandavapura) in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1852. The "HG 2" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in blue.
How rare is French Rocks HG 2?: French Rocks HG 2 has 1 example recorded 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 French Rocks pre stamp cover with HG 2 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from French Rocks 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. 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 French Rocks 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 (1852). 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 French Rocks

2 marks

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

View all French Rocks 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: French Rocks HG 2, French Rocks HG2, French Rocks Giles 2, Pandavapura postal history, French Rocks handstamp, French Rocks pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“French Rocks HG 2 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/french-rocks/hg-2 (accessed 8 November 2026).

Updated: 8 Nov 2026