What is the Guntoor HG 3 handstamp?

Guntoor HG 3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Guntoor (modern Guntur) in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1845 to 1851. The "HG 3" 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 Guntoor HG 3?

Guntoor HG 3 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 a Guntoor pre stamp cover with HG 3 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Guntoor 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 3. 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 a Guntoor HG 3 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1845–1851). 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.

Guntoor HG 3 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1845–1851, Red

Madras Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Guntoor HG 3

Handstamp All India common handstamp

Colour & date: Red1845–1851
Rarity: Common
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 97
Figure: 3
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 2 All Guntoor HG 4 →

Census

Census records

2 covers recorded

2 pre-1854 covers bearing the Guntoor HG 3 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-3832

30 December 1850

Entire posted from Madras to Guntoor on December 30 with 2 annas postage paid with "Madras/ 1850 December 5/ Paid" All India Type slide HG19 postpaid handstamp and "Guntoor/ Paid" HG3 handstamp. As Guntoor did not have any receiving postmark assigned the postpaid handstamp of Guntoor of all India type was applied on arrival on 30th December 1850.

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 Guntoor HG 3 handstamp

Guntoor, situated 16°18' N, and 80°28' E, in Guntoor District, Madras Presidency, 6 miles to the east of the Kondavid Hills. The town derives its name from the Telugu 'gunta', a tank. It was founded by the French, and ceded to the British in 1765.

Guntoor HG 3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Guntoor — the present-day Guntur — in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1845 to 1851. Known strikes are in red. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 3".

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 guntoor pre stamp covers, guntoor postal history or "Guntoor HG3" material can compare HG 3 across every office or browse the rest of the Guntoor marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Guntoor HG 3 handstamp?: Guntoor HG 3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Guntoor (modern Guntur) in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1845 to 1851. The "HG 3" 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 Guntoor HG 3?: Guntoor HG 3 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 a Guntoor pre stamp cover with HG 3 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Guntoor 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 3. 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 a Guntoor HG 3 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1845–1851). 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 Guntoor

4 marks

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

View all Guntoor 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: Guntoor HG 3, Guntoor HG3, Guntoor Giles 3, Guntur postal history, Guntoor handstamp, Guntoor pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Guntoor HG 3 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/guntoor/hg-3 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026