What is the Ingeram HG 3 handstamp?

Ingeram HG 3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Ingeram in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1839 to 1853. 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 Ingeram HG 3?

Ingeram 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 an Ingeram pre stamp cover with HG 3 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Ingeram 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 an Ingeram 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 (1839-53). 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

Ingeram HG 3

Handstamp All India common handstamp

Date Span: 1839-53
Colour: Red
Rarity: Common
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 106
Figure: 3
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 2 All Ingeram HG 4 →

Census

Census records

2 covers recorded

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

COV-1318

8 March 1839

Pondicherry: 1839 (8 Mar.) "Service" entire letter to Injeram showing a fine strike of the very rare oval framed "PONDICHERRY/FREE" in red with date in manuscript (HG 9), also a similar strike for Injeram applied over boxed "Paid" handstamp. One of the most important postal history items of the French Settlements.

COV-711

14 October 1840

French India, 1840 Folded Letter from Yanaon to Pondicherry. Folded letter datelined "Yanaon 14 October 1840" and addressed to Pondicherry, presumably carried privately entering the mails with red framed "INJERAM/Paid" handstamp (Giles 3 var—spelled "INGERAM") with manuscript "14 October 1840" date and "3As" rated added on back, Madras (Oct. 19) transit backstamp, cover with small piece missing at top of front panel from opening, still Very Fine and interesting intra-French settlement mail via the British postal system

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About this mark

The Ingeram HG 3 handstamp

Ingeram, a small village in Godavari District, Madras Presidency, situated 16°44' N and 82°11' E, 5 miles south of Coringa on the Ingeram canal. A factory was established by the E. I. Company in 1708 and became famous for its fine cloths. Captured by the French in 1757, but recovered in 1759, and remained a mercantile station until 1829, and suffered a severe cyclone in 1839.

Ingeram HG 3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Ingeram in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1839 to 1853. 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 ingeram pre stamp covers, ingeram postal history or "Ingeram HG3" material can compare HG 3 across every office or browse the rest of the Ingeram marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Ingeram HG 3 handstamp?: Ingeram HG 3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Ingeram in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1839 to 1853. 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 Ingeram HG 3?: Ingeram 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 an Ingeram pre stamp cover with HG 3 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Ingeram 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 an Ingeram 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 (1839-53). 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 Ingeram

4 marks

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

View all Ingeram 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: Ingeram HG 3, Ingeram HG3, Ingeram Giles 3, Ingeram handstamp, Ingeram pre stamp cover.

How to cite

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

Updated: 10 Aug 2026