What is the Palamcotah HG 2 handstamp?

Palamcotah HG 2 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Palamcotah (modern Palayamkottai) in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1819 to 1823. The "HG 2" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes occur in mauve and black.

How rare is Palamcotah HG 2?

Palamcotah HG 2 is graded "Scarce" 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 Palamcotah pre stamp cover with HG 2 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Palamcotah 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 Palamcotah 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 (1819–1823). 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.

Palamcotah HG 2 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1819–1823, Mauve

Madras Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Palamcotah HG 2

Handstamp

Colours & dates: Mauve1819–1820
Black1819–1823
Rarity: Scarce
Note: Scarce
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 162
Figure: 2
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 1A All Palamcotah HG 3 →

Census

Census records

3 covers recorded

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

COV-103

13 December 1819

Siegel - INDIA, Palamcotah, 1819, "PALAMCOTAH" Handstamp (Giles 2). Complete and fairly legible circular strike with star at center, applied with "POST PAID" straightline on folded cover to Tanjore, manuscript "6 As, 13 Dec. 1819" rate and despatch date, cover with mild water staining, otherwise Fine and quite scarce, the "POST PAID" handstamp is unrecorded by Giles used from Palamcotah Cavendish - PALAMCOTAH - UNRECORDED “POST PAID” WITH DISTINCTIVE SCARCE CIRCULAR ‘STAR’ NAMESTAMP; 13 Dec. 1819 E (minor fault) to Tanjore with a slightly over-inked but mainly very fine rare fancy circular “PALAMCOTTAH/[Star]” (HG2; “scarce”) on the front beside a very fine matching small “POST PAID [6 As]” (Not recorded by Hammond Giles). A significant addition to the record and a good example of this rare fancy circular mark. PHOTO - see page 43.

COV-2765

15 April 1820

COV-2764

19 April 1823

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About this mark

The Palamcotah HG 2 handstamp

Palamcottah, the headquarters of Tinnevelly District, Madras Presidency, is situated 8°44 ' N and 77°45' E, on an open plain a mile from the Tambraparni River and 21/2 miles from Tinnevelly. It was fortified under the native rulers, and its defences were intact when it passed into British hands . It subsequently formed the base of their operations during the Poligar wars.

Palamcotah HG 2 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Palamcotah — the present-day Palayamkottai — in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1819 to 1823. Known strikes occur in mauve and 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 "Scarce" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for palamcotah pre stamp covers, palamcotah postal history or "Palamcotah HG2" material can compare HG 2 across every office or browse the rest of the Palamcotah marks.

Scarce

Frequently asked

What is the Palamcotah HG 2 handstamp?: Palamcotah HG 2 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Palamcotah (modern Palayamkottai) in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1819 to 1823. The "HG 2" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes occur in mauve and black.
How rare is Palamcotah HG 2?: Palamcotah HG 2 is graded "Scarce" 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 Palamcotah pre stamp cover with HG 2 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Palamcotah 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 Palamcotah 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 (1819–1823). 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 Palamcotah

10 marks

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

View all Palamcotah 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: Palamcotah HG 2, Palamcotah HG2, Palamcotah Giles 2, Palayamkottai postal history, Palamcotah handstamp, Palamcotah pre stamp cover.

How to cite

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

Updated: 10 Aug 2026