Post office · Madras Presidency
PunjamalPostal Covers & Pre-1854 Postal History
Punjamal postal covers and handstruck postal markings of pre-1854 British India, recorded in an open census: 1 Punjamal handstamp recorded in 1856, Madras Presidency, with 2 Punjamal covers traced to them.
- Handstamps
- 1
- Recorded
- 1856
- Rare
- 1
Palayamkottai (பாளையங்கோட்டை) is a historic urban area in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India, situated on the eastern side of the Thamirabarani River. Often called the “Oxford of South India,” it is renowned for its educational institutions, colonial-era heritage, religious landmarks, and important role in the development of modern Tirunelveli.
Punjamal has 1 pre-1854 hand-struck postal marking from 1856 recorded in this census. Each figure links to its covers, rarity and provenance.
Brown border = community submission, verified by editors
Punjamal handstamp summary
All recorded markings at a glance — click any row for full details and covers.
| Mark | Type | Colour | Dates | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HG 1 | Handstamp | Red | 1856 | Rare |
Frequently asked — Punjamal postal history
- What are the pre stamp covers of Punjamal?
- Pre stamp (pre philatelic) covers of Punjamal are folded letters and envelopes that passed through the Punjamal post office before India's first adhesive stamp of 1854, so postage was shown entirely by hand-struck postal markings and manuscript rates. Punjamal was a post office of the Madras Presidency, British India, and this census records 1 distinct postal marking used there, dated around 1856.
- How many handstamps are recorded for Punjamal?
- 1 hand-struck postal marking is recorded for Punjamal in this census, of which 1 is graded rare or better. Each mark carries its Hammond Giles catalogue figure number, colour, date range, evidence-based rarity grade, and links to every surviving cover recorded with it.
- What is Punjamal called today?
- Punjamal is the colonial-era name of present-day Palayamkottai, India. Covers and postmarks are catalogued here under the historical name used on the marks themselves.
- How do I identify a Punjamal postmark or cover?
- Compare your cover against the reference impressions on this page — each figure shows the mark's design, ink colour and recorded date range. If your Punjamal cover bears a mark that matches a figure, open that figure's page to see every recorded example with provenance. If it matches none, it may be unrecorded: submit photographs through the form on this page and the editors will review it for inclusion in the census.
For background on the material itself, see the guides to the handstruck stamps of India, the pre covers of India and the pre stamp covers of India, which explain how marks like those recorded at Punjamal were struck, catalogued and graded for rarity.
Also searched as: Punjamal, Palayamkottai, Punjamal HG 1, Punjamal handstruck stamps, Punjamal pre stamp covers, Punjamal postal history.
How to cite
“Punjamal, Madras Presidency — pre-1854 handstruck stamps & covers,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/punjamal (accessed 17 October 2026).
Updated: 17 Oct 2026
An unrecorded mark from Punjamal?
If you hold a cover or strike from Punjamal that does not match any figure above, submit it below. Approved additions appear here as new entries in the census — every submission is reviewed first.
Same presidency
Other post offices in the Madras Presidency
Explore the pre-1854 postal history of other Madras Presidency post offices — each page lists its recorded handstruck markings, dates and surviving covers.