What is the Pondicherry HG 7 handstamp?

Pondicherry HG 7 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Pondicherry (modern Puducherry) in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1838 to 1851. The "HG 7" 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 Pondicherry HG 7?

Pondicherry HG 7 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 16 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.

What does a Pondicherry pre stamp cover with HG 7 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Pondicherry 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 7. 16 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 Pondicherry HG 7 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1838–1851). 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.

Pondicherry HG 7 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1838–1851, Red

Madras Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Pondicherry HG 7

Handstamp French territory

Colour & date: Red1838–1851
Rarity: Common
Note: Only one "R" in "-chery"
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 171
Figure: 7
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 6 All Pondicherry HG 8 →

Census

Census records

16 covers recorded

16 pre-1854 covers bearing the Pondicherry HG 7 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-2489

17 January 1838

1838 to Pondicherry, postage paid 1 anna, postmarked with Cadalore handstamp dated 17 Jan. 1838, and Pondicherry Paid handstamp, both struck in red.

COV-597

1839

1839 (June 22): Entire letter from Pondichery to Nantes with reverse showing framed "PONDICHERY / Paid" despatch in red annotated "1 Rs. 5 As. Steamer and Inland Postage / Paid in India" in manuscript, superb "OUT STATION / MADRAS / SHIP LETTER" in black (June 23). Oval "INDIA" in red and rare "INDES / ALEXANDRIE" cds in black (Aug 17) and framed "Paquebots / De La Mediteranée" in red. Circular "Purifié au Lazaret au Malte" disinfection cachet and charged '17' décimes due on arrival. A superb entire with all markings very fine.

COV-1892

1839

1839 (16 Nov.) entire letter to Lyon, with on the reverse a fine strike of 'out station/ madras 16 no 16/ 1839/ ship letter' oval handstamp in black, oval 'india' in red to face alongside 'paquebots/ de la/ mediterranee' boxed red handstamp, and on the back flap 'pondicherry/ paid' boxed cachet in red, other transit and arrival markings and notations; fine

COV-1405

8 June 1839

COV-1406

22 June 1839

COV-594

1840

French India 1840: Cover to Bordeaux with framed "PONDICHERY / Paid" handstamp of despatch in red with manuscript date (Feb 19) and rate "1r. 30 annas" and "Steamer and Inland Paid in India", with oval "OUT STATION / SHIP LETTER / MADRAS" in black (Feb 20) and oval "INDIA" in red, framed "PAQUEBOTS / DE LA / MEDITTERRANÉE" with Bordeaux arrival (April 4) and charged "19" décimes due on arrival. Sensibly opened for Exhibit display, a fine cover

COV-3414

17 July 1840

Entire posted from Cuddalore to Pondicherry with "Cuddalore/ Paid" HG5 All India type Handstamp posted on 17 July 1840 with 1 anna postage paid along with "Pondicherry/ Paid" HG7 All India type handstamp in red color. It's interesting to know that Pondicherry HG7 handstamp is also used as receiving handstamp.

COV-3259

20 January 1841

A Pre-stamp entire from PONDICHERRY Dt. 20 JAN 1811 Gile Type 7 (R) circa 1838-51 to BORDEUX Dely on 8 March 1841 PAQUEBOTS DE LA MEDITARIANEE in a Red Box. On Back written in manuscript 'Steamer & Inland Postage Paid in India'. Transit time 47 days.

COV-1408

25 January 1841

COV-2470

22 November 1841

1841 Pondicherry – Bordeaux overland entire via Marseilles route, with Pondicherry Giles 7 "PONDICHERRY/Paid" despatch hand stamp, date "22 Novr. 1841" & paid rate "1R3A + 8A" (total 27A, comprising 10A double-letter inland postage to Bombay weighing between ¼–½ tolah, 9A steam postage to Alexandria, & 8A Madras–Bombay express rate) applied in manuscript, transited through Madras, there Giles MX5 "G.P.O./1841 Nov.24" mark & at Bombay Giles SD5 "INDIA" port transit mark applied. From Bombay sent to Suez by EIC regular steamer VICTORIA, then travelled overland to Alexandria, from there sent to Malta via P&O steamer MONTROSE & then sent to Marseilles via H.M.'s packet ALECTO. There "MARSEILLE/2 JANV/1842/(12)" French transit mark & 19 decimes (French 9 decimes inland postage + 10 decimes Mediterranean steam postage) bearing postage applied in manuscript, finally reached Bordeaux & there "BORDEAUX/3 JANV/1842/(32)" delivery mark applied. Bearing postage collected from the recipient.

COV-602

1842

1842: Entire letter from Pondichery to Bordeaux, endorsed "Per Overland Express via Marseille" struck with framed "PONDICHERY / Paid" handstamp in red (Dec 24) and rated "1r. 3 Annas" in manuscript (above 1 tola), with "Steamer and Inland paid in India" alongside and "Express Postage 8 annas" (to Bombay), carried from Madras to Bombay at express rate and then on East India Co. "Cleopatra" via Suez, struck with oval framed "INDIA" and small cartridge "Paquebots / de la / Mediterranée" in red; thence via Malta on P&O "Orient" and the "HMS Prometheus" to Marseille. Rated '19' décime due on arrival (Nov 6). An attractive entire that opens well for Exhibit display.

COV-603

1842

1842: Entire letter from Pondichery to Bordeaux, endorsed "By Steamer via Suez & Marseille" struck with framed "PONDICHERY / Paid" handstamp in red (Sept 18) and rated "14 Annas" in manuscript, with "Steamer and Inland p.p. in India" alongside, carried on East India Co. "Cleopatra" via Suez, struck with oval framed "INDIA" and "Paquebots / de la / Mediterranée" in red; thence via Malta on P&O "Great Liverpool" and the "HMS Polythemus" to Marseille. Rated '19' décime due on arrival (Nov 6). An attractive entire that opens well for Exhibit display.

COV-337

21 March 1842

India, French Settlement, Pondicherry, 1842, "PONDICHERY/Paid" Framed Handstamp (Giles 7). Faint but clear strike in red with manuscript "21 March 1842" date and "R1-A3" rate markings on back of folded letter to Bordeaux, France, sender's directive "pr Steamer via Bombay" and " via Marseille" , red "INDIA" in oval and red framed "Paquebots de la Mediterranee" handstamps, Marseilles (Apr. 30) transit and Bordeaux (May 3) arrival backstamps, manuscript "12" rate marking, Very Fine

COV-3465

22 April 1842

Entire posted from Pondicherry to Bordeaux on 22nd April 1842 with 3 Annas steam and inland postage paid upto Madras and 8 Annas express postage paid upto Madras with HG7 Pondicherry hand struck stamp of all India type "Pondicherr Paid" in red color and India oval in red color. The post was carried via overland express and via Marseille to France and reached on 2nd June 1842 with 40 transit days.

COV-2466

16 August 1843

1843 Pondicherry – Bordeaux overland entire via Marseilles route, forwarded by A.E. De Colons & Co., Pondicherry, with Pondicherry Giles 7 "PONDICHERRY/Paid" despatch hand stamp, date "16 Aug 1843" & paid rate "1–3" (comprising 10A double-letter inland postage to Bombay weighing between ¼ & ½ tolah, plus 9A steam postage to Alexandria) applied in manuscript. At Bombay, Giles SD5 "INDIA" transit mark (indicating steam postage paid) applied. From Bombay sent to Suez by EIC regular steamer CLEOPATRA, then travelled overland to Alexandria, from there sent to Syra via French steamer Sesostris & then to Malta via French packet LYCURGUE, held & disinfected at Malta, where "PURIFIÉ AU LAZARET / MALTE" cachet applied, released & sent to Marseilles via H.M.'s packet ALECTO. Reached there on 19th October. French Sea Post Office transit mark applied and 19 decimes (French 9 decimes inland postage + 10 decimes Mediterranean steam postage) bearing postage applied in manuscript, sent to Bordeaux, where "BORDEAUX/21/OCT/1843/(12)" delivery mark applied. Bearing postage collected from the recipient.

COV-3260

20 December 1843

A Ship letter from PONDICHERRY Dt. 20 DEC 1843 Gile Type 7 circa - 1838/51 with Red Oval Cachet of INDIA (INDIA-Paid) via BOMBAY and Suez to MARSEILLE date unclear.

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About this mark

The Pondicherry HG 7 handstamp

Pondicherry was the chief of the French Settlements in India, and is situated on the Coromandel coast, 11°56' N and 79°49' E, about 12 miles north of Cuddalore, and 105 miles from Madras. It was founded in 1674, captured by the Dutch in 1693, but was restored in 1699. It was besieged 4 times by the British. First, unsuccessfully by Admiral Boscawen in 1748, then by Eyre Coote in 1761, captured and returned in 1765. In 1778 it was captured by Sir Hector Munro, and the fortifications destroyed, but returned in 1785 under the Treaty of Versailles of 1783. It was captured a fourth time in 1793 by Colonel Braithwaite, and finally restored in 1816.

Pondicherry HG 7 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Pondicherry — the present-day Puducherry — in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1838 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 7".

16 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 pondicherry pre stamp covers, pondicherry postal history or "Pondicherry HG7" material can compare HG 7 across every office or browse the rest of the Pondicherry marks.

Only one "R" in "-chery"

Frequently asked

What is the Pondicherry HG 7 handstamp?: Pondicherry HG 7 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Pondicherry (modern Puducherry) in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1838 to 1851. The "HG 7" 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 Pondicherry HG 7?: Pondicherry HG 7 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 16 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does a Pondicherry pre stamp cover with HG 7 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Pondicherry 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 7. 16 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 Pondicherry HG 7 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1838–1851). 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 Pondicherry

15 marks

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

View all Pondicherry 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: Pondicherry HG 7, Pondicherry HG7, Pondicherry Giles 7, Puducherry postal history, Pondicherry handstamp, Pondicherry pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Pondicherry HG 7 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/pondicherry/hg-7 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026