Madras Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp
Poonamullee HG 4
- Date Span
- 1842
- Colour
- Red
- Rarity
- Common
- Catalogue
- 1996 Supplement · p. 7
- Figure
- 4
- Submitted by
- D. Hammond Giles
Census
Census records
0 covers recordedNo pre stamp cover bearing the Poonamullee HG 4 handstamp has been recorded yet. If you hold one, submit it below.
No covers bearing this mark have been recorded yet. If you hold one, your submission — once reviewed — will appear here.
About this mark
The Poonamullee HG 4 handstamp
Poonamullee is a town and cantonment in the Saidapet taluk of the Chingleput District, Madras Presidency, situated 13°3' N and 80°7' E, on the west trunk road 13 miles west of Madras. There is a fort, built by the Muslims and of considerable use in holding the country, towards both Madras and Conjeeveram, during the wars of the Carnatic.
Poonamullee HG 4 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Poonamullee — the present-day Poonamallee — in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1842. Known strikes are in red. It is listed in 1996 Supplement, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 4".
No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example. On the strength of that count the mark is graded "Common" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for poonamullee pre stamp covers, poonamullee postal history or "Poonamullee HG4" material can compare HG 4 across every office or browse the rest of the Poonamullee marks.
Frequently asked
- What is the Poonamullee HG 4 handstamp?
- Poonamullee HG 4 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Poonamullee (modern Poonamallee) in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1842. The "HG 4" 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 Poonamullee HG 4?
- Poonamullee HG 4 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example.
- What does a Poonamullee pre stamp cover with HG 4 look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Poonamullee 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 4. No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example. Each census record on this page links to full cover images, dates and auction provenance.
- How do I identify or submit a Poonamullee HG 4 cover?
- Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1842). 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 Poonamullee
4 marks4 other pre-1854 postal markings of Poonamullee are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
Suggest a correction
Spotted a wrong date, colour or rarity? Propose a change — every suggestion is reviewed before it is applied.
Also searched as: Poonamullee HG 4, Poonamullee HG4, Poonamullee Giles 4, Poonamallee postal history, Poonamullee handstamp, Poonamullee pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Poonamullee HG 4 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/poonamullee/hg-4 (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026