What is the Sadrass HG 1 handstamp?

Sadrass HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Sadrass in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1822. 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 Sadrass HG 1?

Sadrass HG 1 has 2 examples recorded in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 2 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.

What does a Sadrass pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Sadrass 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. 2 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each 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 Sadrass 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 (1822). 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.

Sadrass HG 1 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1822, Black

Madras Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Sadrass HG 1

Handstamp

Colour & date: Black1822
Rarity: 2 examples recorded
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 182
Figure: 1
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

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Census

Census records

2 covers recorded

2 pre-1854 covers bearing the Sadrass HG 1 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-908

7 September 1822

1819-22 Two stampless entires both addressed to Madras, the 1819 entire bears partial strike of the extremely rare POST PAID/SAMULCOTAH 2-line stike, plus 1822 with framed SADRAS/POST PAID, both stikes applied on reverse, neatly mounted and written up on album pages, a fine pair.

COV-112

30 September 1822

INDIA, (Dutch Settlement), Sadras, 1822, "SADRAS/POST PAID" Handstamp (Giles 1). Faint but complete and clear oval strike on back of folded letter with manuscript "30th Sept. 1822" despatch docketing, addressed to Major de Havilland in Madras, manuscript "as 2" and "Post Paid", Madras Oct. 1 arrival datestamp (Giles MX3) FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED STRIKE OF THIS SADRAS HANDSTAMP. A MAJOR DUTCH INDIA SETTLEMENT POSTMARK RARITY. Sadras is located about 35 miles south of Madras. The Dutch arrived in 1647 and maintained control until the British overtook the settlement in 1795. It was handed back to the Dutch in 1818 and, along with all other Indian settlements, sold back to the British in 1825. This letter was written during that short seven-year period of the second Dutch occupation.

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About this mark

The Sadrass HG 1 handstamp

Sadras is a village in the Chingleput District, Madras Presidency, about 35 miles south of Madras, situated 12°31' N and 80°10' E. Sadras became a Dutch trading settlement in 1647, and was taken by the English in 1795, but given back in 1818, only to be returned to the Company in 1825 along with the rest of the Dutch settlements.

Sadrass HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Sadrass in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1822. 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".

2 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance. On the strength of that count the mark is graded "2 examples recorded" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for sadrass pre stamp covers, sadrass postal history or "Sadrass HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Sadrass marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Sadrass HG 1 handstamp?: Sadrass HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Sadrass in the Madras Presidency, British India, recorded in use around 1822. 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 Sadrass HG 1?: Sadrass HG 1 has 2 examples recorded in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 2 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does a Sadrass pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Sadrass 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. 2 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each 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 Sadrass 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 (1822). 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 Sadrass

1 mark

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

Sadrass HG 2handstampRed1851

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Suggest a correction

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Also searched as: Sadrass HG 1, Sadrass HG1, Sadrass Giles 1, Sadrass handstamp, Sadrass pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Sadrass HG 1 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/sadrass/hg-1 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026