What is the Porto Novo HG A handstamp?

Porto Novo HG A is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Porto Novo (modern Parangipettai) in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1834. The "HG A" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India.

How rare is Porto Novo HG A?

Porto Novo HG A 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 Porto Novo pre stamp cover with HG A look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Porto Novo 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 A. 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 Porto Novo HG A cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1834). 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

Porto Novo HG A

Colour & date: 1834
Rarity: Very scarce
Catalogue: 1993 Supplement · p. 25
Figure: a
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 1 All Porto Novo

Census

Census records

1 cover recorded

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

COV-495

4 Nov 1834

India, Porto Novo, 1834, "PORTO NOVO" Circular Handstamp with Star (Giles A, 1993 Supplement). Fairly clear strike in Brownish Red with manuscript "4th Nover 1834" date and rate calculations on back of folded cover to Sir John Doveton in Madras, sender's directive "Lady Essex" , cover likely originating in England and carried privately to India, "POST NOT PAID" handstamp (slightly affected by opening tears) which is attributed by Giles to Porto Novo, Madras (Nov. 7) arrival backstamps, cover with some edgewear, Fine strikes of these exceptionally rare postal markings, we presume very few (if any) other examples exist as this was only recorded by Giles in his 1993 Supplement, the recipient Sir John Doveton (1768-1847) was a well-known British military officer who retired as a Lieutenant-General having fought in Third & Fourth Anglo-Mysore and the Third Anglo-Maratha Wars

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About this mark

The Porto Novo HG A handstamp

Porto Novo is a town and port at the mouth of the Vellar River, in South Arcot District, Madras Presidency, situated 11°30' N and 79°46' E. An English settlement was founded in 1685, and in 1781, Sir Eyre Coote defeated Haidar Ali, in a battle that was decisive.

Porto Novo HG A is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Porto Novo — the present-day Parangipettai — in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1834. It is listed in 1993 Supplement, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG A".

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 porto novo pre stamp covers, porto novo postal history or "Porto Novo HGA" material can compare HG A across every office or browse the rest of the Porto Novo marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Porto Novo HG A handstamp?: Porto Novo HG A is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Porto Novo (modern Parangipettai) in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1834. The "HG A" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India.
How rare is Porto Novo HG A?: Porto Novo HG A 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 Porto Novo pre stamp cover with HG A look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Porto Novo 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 A. 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 Porto Novo HG A cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1834). 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 Porto Novo

1 mark

One other pre-1854 postal marking of Porto Novo is recorded in the census. Compare it against this mark to place your cover.

Porto Novo HG 1handstamp1848

View all Porto Novo 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: Porto Novo HG A, Porto Novo HGA, Porto Novo Giles A, Parangipettai postal history, Porto Novo handstamp, Porto Novo pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Porto Novo HG A — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/porto-novo/hg-a (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026