What is the Karical HG 2 handstamp?

Karical HG 2 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Karical (modern Karaikal) in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1842 to 1853. The "HG 2" 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 Karical HG 2?

Karical HG 2 is graded "Rare" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 3 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.

What does a Karical pre stamp cover with HG 2 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Karical 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. 3 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 Karical 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 (1842–1853). 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.

Karical HG 2 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1842–1853, Black

Madras Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Karical HG 2

Handstamp French territory All India common handstamp

Colour & date: Black1842–1853
Rarity: Rare
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 114
Figure: 2
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 1 All Karical HG 3 →

Census

Census records

3 covers recorded

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

COV-608

26 September 1842

Karikal 1842: Incoming entire letter with superb strike of framed "PENANG / Paid" datestamp (Proud PS6) in red (July 18) and rated at "4 annas" in manuscript (internal fee), with equally fine and scarce framed "MADRAS / SHIP LETTER / Bearing" in black (Sept 23) with manuscript "3 annas + 2 inland" and framed "KARICAL / Bearing" arrival (Sept 26) in black. An exceptional and most attractive entire.

COV-2095

23 March 1850

COV-2469

11 May 1853

1853 Saint-Denis – Karical overland entire, with French Saint-Denis despatch and "PP" in circle (PORT PAYE means Port Paid) from France, 10 decimes packet postage up to Alexandria paid by the sender, transited through Suez and sent to India via private French vessel. Upon receipt at Pondicherry port, directly Giles 11 "PONDICHERY /1853.May.10 /Bearing" despatch hand stamp & rate "3As + 1" (comprising 3A inward ship postage & 1A inland postage for a letter not exceeding ¼ tolah, not exceeding 100 miles; here the distance was around 80 miles between Pondicherry & Karical) applied & sent to Karical. At Karical, Giles 2 "KARICAL/Bearing" hand stamp as receipt & date "11. 5. 53" applied, bearing postage collected from the recipient.

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About this mark

The Karical HG 2 handstamp

Karical was a French settlement on the Coromandal coast in Tanjore District, Madras, situated 10°55' N and 79°50' E.

Karical HG 2 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Karical — the present-day Karaikal — in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1842 to 1853. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 2".

3 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 "Rare" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for karical pre stamp covers, karical postal history or "Karical HG2" material can compare HG 2 across every office or browse the rest of the Karical marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Karical HG 2 handstamp?: Karical HG 2 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Karical (modern Karaikal) in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1842 to 1853. The "HG 2" 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 Karical HG 2?: Karical HG 2 is graded "Rare" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 3 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does a Karical pre stamp cover with HG 2 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Karical 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. 3 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 Karical 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 (1842–1853). 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 Karical

3 marks

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

View all Karical 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: Karical HG 2, Karical HG2, Karical Giles 2, Karaikal postal history, Karical handstamp, Karical pre stamp cover.

How to cite

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

Updated: 10 Aug 2026