Madras Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp
Ramnad HG 1A
- Colour & date
- Black1837
- Rarity
- Scarce
- Catalogue
- 1993 Supplement · p. 25
- Figure
- 1A
- Submitted by
- D. Hammond Giles
Census
Census records
1 cover recorded1 pre-1854 cover bearing the Ramnad HG 1A handstamp is recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.
About this mark
The Ramnad HG 1A handstamp
Ramnad, in Madura District, Madras Presidency, is situated 9°22' N and 78°51' E. The town was taken by General Smith in 1772, and was under military occupation in 1792. The fortifications consisted of a wall 27 feet high and 5 feet thick, surrounded by a fosse .
Ramnad HG 1A is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Ramnad — the present-day Ramanathapuram — in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1837. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 1993 Supplement, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 1A".
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 "Scarce" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for ramnad pre stamp covers, ramnad postal history or "Ramnad HG1A" material can compare HG 1A across every office or browse the rest of the Ramnad marks.
Frequently asked
- What is the Ramnad HG 1A handstamp?
- Ramnad HG 1A is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Ramnad (modern Ramanathapuram) in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1837. The "HG 1A" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in black.
- How rare is Ramnad HG 1A?
- Ramnad HG 1A is graded "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 Ramnad pre stamp cover with HG 1A look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Ramnad 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 1A. 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 Ramnad HG 1A cover?
- Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1837). 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 Ramnad
3 marks3 other pre-1854 postal markings of Ramnad 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: Ramnad HG 1A, Ramnad HG1A, Ramnad Giles 1A, Ramanathapuram postal history, Ramnad handstamp, Ramnad pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Ramnad HG 1A — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/ramnand/hg-1a (accessed 14 August 2026).
Updated: 14 Aug 2026