Madras Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp
Royacottah HG 1
- Colour & date
- Black1837
- Rarity
- Rare
- Catalogue
- 1989 Catalogue · p. 181
- Figure
- 1
- Submitted by
- D. Hammond Giles
Census
Census records
1 cover recorded1 pre-1854 cover bearing the Royacottah HG 1 handstamp is recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.
About this mark
The Royacottah HG 1 handstamp
Royacottah is in Salem District, 206 miles from Madras and 1180 from CalGUtta, and about 20 miles from Salem, in Madras Presidency.
Royacottah HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Royacottah in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1837. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 1".
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 "Rare" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for royacottah pre stamp covers, royacottah postal history or "Royacottah HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Royacottah marks.
Frequently asked
- What is the Royacottah HG 1 handstamp?
- Royacottah HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Royacottah in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1837. The "HG 1" 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 Royacottah HG 1?
- Royacottah HG 1 is graded "Rare" 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 Royacottah pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Royacottah 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 1. 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 Royacottah HG 1 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.
Suggest a correction
Spotted a wrong date, colour or rarity? Propose a change — every suggestion is reviewed before it is applied.
Also searched as: Royacottah HG 1, Royacottah HG1, Royacottah Giles 1, Royacottah handstamp, Royacottah pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Royacottah HG 1 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/royacottah/hg-1 (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026