What is the Seringapatam HG 3 handstamp?

Seringapatam HG 3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Seringapatam (modern Srirangapatna) in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1801 to 1815. 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 Seringapatam HG 3?

Seringapatam HG 3 is graded "Very scarce" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 11 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.

What does a Seringapatam pre stamp cover with HG 3 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Seringapatam 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. 11 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 Seringapatam 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 (1801–1815). 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.

Seringapatam HG 3 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1801–1815, Black

Madras Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Seringapatam HG 3

Handstamp Mysore State

Colour & date: Black1801–1815
Rarity: Very scarce
Note: Rare
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 189
Figure: 3
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 2 All Seringapatam HG 4 →

Census

Census records

11 covers recorded

11 pre-1854 covers bearing the Seringapatam HG 3 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-1671

12 December 1801

1801 Seringapatam – Calcutta inland entire, with Seringapatam Giles 3 "Post Paid/Seringapatam" dispatch hand stamp, date "13 Decr. 1801" & rate "16½ fs" (comprising 4½ fanams as inland from Seringapatam to Madras, 12 fanams as inland postage from Madras to Ganjam, total 16½ fanams) applied in manuscript, from Ganjam to Calcutta sent bearing, at Calcutta Giles 11 "G.P.O./DECr./Bg Pg" bearing hand stamp, date "01" & rate "6" (6A rate Ganjam to Calcutta, for letter not exceeding 1R6A sicca weight or around 16 grams) applied in manuscript, which was collected from the recipient.

COV-1160

14 February 1804

Seringapatam: 1804 (14 Feb.) entire letter written by Major Wilkes from French Rocks to Fort St. George showing a good strike of the rare oval framed "Post Paid/Seringapatam" (HG 3) rated "1 As". A superb and rare letter from the Campaign. Extract from letter: The letter contains the following reference to military activities "I proceed tomorrow to Hurryhur in company with the Dewan, and if Genl. Wellesley and Campbell should send the 15 or 20,000 Freebooters who are ravaging the Nizam's frontier on a full trot sufficiently to the Southward, the Rajah's troops may possibly be useful in completing their dispersion."

COV-2636

25 February 1805

COV-315

24 April 1809

India, Seringapatam, 1809, "Post Paid/Seringapatam" Oval Handstamp (Giles 3). Faint but legible strike in red on folded letter to Captain de Havilland "On the road from Chittledroog or at Chittledroog" , sent by recipient's wife who requests "To be kept outside of the Packet" , manuscript "3f 24 April 1809" rate and despatch notation, Fine, noted as "rare" by Giles

COV-444

20 February 1810

India, Seringapatam, 1810, "Post Paid/Seringapatam" Oval Handstamp (Giles 3). Legible partial strike on folded letter with "4½f" rate and "20 Feby 1810" date, written by William Garrard to his friend Capt. Thomas de Havilland in Bangalore, letter written while de Havilland was detailed and waiting court martial for his suspected involvement in the 1809 mutiny in Seringapatam, Very Fine, the Seringapatam marking is noted as "rare" by Giles, the "Great White Mutiny" was an often overlooked revolt by soldiers in the East India Company who felt under-represented by the Governor of Madras, George Barlow, de Havilland was court martialed as part of the mutiny but argued his involvement was due to unknowingly passing messages between his superiors

COV-585

5 March 1810

1810 entire letter posted from Seringapatam to Bangalore on 5th March 1810, struck with the HG-3 oval handstamp. The letter travelled a distance of approximately 75 miles, with postage of 1 fanam paid.

COV-938

12 March 1810

Rare-handstamp of "Post Paid Sringapatam" HG2 in red color posted on 12th March 1810 addressed to Captain De Havilland at Bangalore with postage in manuscript of 1 Fanam indicating the rate for the postage.

COV-116

26 March 1810

INDIA, Seringapatam, 1810, "Post Paid/Seringapatam" Handstamp (Giles 3). Mostly complete and clear red strike in oval on folded letter with manuscript "1½as, 26 March 1810" rate and despatch date, addressed to Capt. de Havilland in Bangalore, cover with file fold at right crosses handstamp, still Very Fine strike of this cancel, Giles notes rare

COV-2171

10 April 1810

COV-1981

19 April 1810

COV-500

28 September 1815

India, Seringapatam, 1815, "Post Paid/Seringapatam" Oval Handstamp (Giles 3). Mostly clear and legible strike in red with manuscript "29th Septr 1815" date and "3f" rate added on folded letter datelined "Farm September 28 1815" , addressed to Major de Havilland in Chittoor, interesting contents stating "I congratulate you on the present, and hope that the better situation is not far distant. Where are you & when do you expect that the road will be clear?" , these in reference to de Havilland's court martial trial, Very Fine, noted in Giles as "rare", the "Great White Mutiny" is an often overlooked revolt by soldiers in the East India Company who felt under-represented by the Governor of Madras, George Barlow, de Havilland was court martialed as part of the mutiny but argued his involvement was due to unknowingly passing messages between his superiors

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About this mark

The Seringapatam HG 3 handstamp

Seringapatam (Srirangapattana) is in Mysore District, on an island in the Cauvery, 10 miles north-east of Mysore, situated 12°25' N and 76°42' E. Haidar Ali took possession of the place in 1761, and withstood sieges of the Marathas in 1771. The British made two sieges in 1792 and 1799. Tipu Sultan submitted to the terms imposed in 1792, but prolonged resistance in 1799, until it was stormed and he lost his life. Seringapatam then became the property of the British, who leased it to Mysore for Rs.50,000 per annum.

Seringapatam HG 3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Seringapatam — the present-day Srirangapatna — in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1801 to 1815. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 3".

11 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 "Very scarce" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for seringapatam pre stamp covers, seringapatam postal history or "Seringapatam HG3" material can compare HG 3 across every office or browse the rest of the Seringapatam marks.

Rare

Frequently asked

What is the Seringapatam HG 3 handstamp?: Seringapatam HG 3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Seringapatam (modern Srirangapatna) in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1801 to 1815. 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 Seringapatam HG 3?: Seringapatam HG 3 is graded "Very scarce" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 11 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does a Seringapatam pre stamp cover with HG 3 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Seringapatam 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. 11 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 Seringapatam 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 (1801–1815). 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 Seringapatam

12 marks

12 other pre-1854 postal markings of Seringapatam are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.

View all Seringapatam marks and postal history →

Suggest a correction

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Also searched as: Seringapatam HG 3, Seringapatam HG3, Seringapatam Giles 3, Srirangapatna postal history, Seringapatam handstamp, Seringapatam pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Seringapatam HG 3 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/seringapatam/hg-3 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026