Madras Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp
Ramnad HG 3
- Date Span
- 1839
- Colour
- Black
- Rarity
- Common
- Catalogue
- 1993 Supplement · p. 25
- Figure
- 3
- Submitted by
- D. Hammond Giles
Census
Census records
0 covers recordedNo pre stamp cover bearing the Ramnad HG 3 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 Ramnad HG 3 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 3 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 1839. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 1993 Supplement, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 3".
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 ramnad pre stamp covers, ramnad postal history or "Ramnad HG3" material can compare HG 3 across every office or browse the rest of the Ramnad marks.
Frequently asked
- What is the Ramnad HG 3 handstamp?
- Ramnad HG 3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Ramnad (modern Ramanathapuram) in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1839. The "HG 3" 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 3?
- Ramnad HG 3 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 Ramnad pre stamp cover with HG 3 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 3. 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 Ramnad HG 3 cover?
- Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1839). 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 3, Ramnad HG3, Ramnad Giles 3, Ramanathapuram postal history, Ramnad handstamp, Ramnad pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Ramnad HG 3 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/ramnand/hg-3 (accessed 11 August 2026).
Updated: 11 Aug 2026