What is the Masulipatam HG 12 handstamp?

Masulipatam HG 12 is a early Indian handstruck postal marking of Masulipatam (modern Machilipatnam) in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1855. The "HG 12" 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 Masulipatam HG 12?

Masulipatam HG 12 is graded "Very scarce" 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 Masulipatam pre stamp cover with HG 12 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Masulipatam 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 12. 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 Masulipatam HG 12 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1855). 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

Masulipatam HG 12

Handstamp

Colour & date: Black1855
Rarity: Very scarce
Figure: 12
Submitted by: sephils

← HG 11 All Masulipatam

Census

Census records

1 cover recorded

1 pre-1854 cover bearing the Masulipatam HG 12 handstamp is recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-3910

1855

India 1855 prestamp cover from England, addressed to Masulipatam (UNRECORDED marking by Giles), via Southampton & Madras

Compare HG 12 across every office →

About this mark

The Masulipatam HG 12 handstamp

Masulipatam is situated 16°11' N and 81° 8' E, in Kistna District, Madras Presidency, on the Bay of Bengal, 215 miles from Madras. The English traded there as early as 1611, and later established a factory there. In 1686 the Dutch tried to interfere with this trading, but the Moghul emperor granted the Madras GoverI)ment a farman to continue trading there. In 1750, Masulipatam was seized by the French, but recaptured in 1759, and under a treaty signed in May 1759 Masulipatam and the adjacent territory passed to the Company.

Masulipatam HG 12 is a early Indian handstruck postal marking of the post office at Masulipatam — the present-day Machilipatnam — in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1855. Known strikes are in black. Its "HG 12" 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 "Very scarce" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for masulipatam pre stamp covers, masulipatam postal history or "Masulipatam HG12" material can compare HG 12 across every office or browse the rest of the Masulipatam marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Masulipatam HG 12 handstamp?: Masulipatam HG 12 is a early Indian handstruck postal marking of Masulipatam (modern Machilipatnam) in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1855. The "HG 12" 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 Masulipatam HG 12?: Masulipatam HG 12 is graded "Very scarce" 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 Masulipatam pre stamp cover with HG 12 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Masulipatam 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 12. 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 Masulipatam HG 12 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1855). 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 Masulipatam

12 marks

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

View all Masulipatam 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: Masulipatam HG 12, Masulipatam HG12, Masulipatam Giles 12, Machilipatnam postal history, Masulipatam handstamp, Masulipatam pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Masulipatam HG 12 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/masulipatam/hg-12 (accessed 4 August 2026).

Updated: 4 Aug 2026