What is the Tranquebar HG 1 handstamp?

Tranquebar HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Tranquebar (modern Tharangambadi) in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1800 to 1829. 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 Tranquebar HG 1?

Tranquebar 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. 6 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.

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

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Tranquebar 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. 6 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 Tranquebar 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 (1800–1829). 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.

Tranquebar HG 1 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1800–1829, Black

Madras Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Tranquebar HG 1

Handstamp Danish territory Ex-territorial British

Colour & date: Black1800–1829
Rarity: Rare
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 204
Figure: 1
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

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Census

Census records

6 covers recorded

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

COV-698

18 March 1800

India, (Danish Settlement), Tranquebar, 1800, "Post.Paid/TRANa.r" Handstamp (Giles 1). Exceptionally bold oval strike (affected by erosion hole and tear) on folded letter datelined Mar. 18, 1800 and addressed to Cochin, manuscript "2f" rate marking, cover is brittle with heavy toning, affected by ink erosion, and with some tape repairs repairing splits, still a Very Fine strike, particularly rare used during the first Danish settlement period which ended with the East India Company taking over in 1801, it was eventually returned to Denmark in 1814 only to be purchased by the British again in 1845, noted by Giles as rare

COV-3237

10 October 1800

COV-1369

11 July 1806

COV-1669

29 April 1817

1817 Tranquebar – Tanjore inland entire, with Tranquebar Giles 1 "PosT Paid/TRANqr" dispatch hand stamp, date "29th April 1817" & rate "1½ fs" (1½ fanams) applied in manuscript. Here the sender paid 1½ fanams for this single letter, as weight was under 1 tolah, & sent under 100 miles, as the distance between Tranquebar & Tanjore is around 70 miles. No delivery mark applied.

COV-2080

11 September 1829

COV-120

INDIA, (Danish Settlement), Tranquebar, ca. 1800s, "Post Paid//Trandr." Handstamp (Giles 1). Bold oval strike (though affected at center by insect holes) on folded cover with manuscript "1f" rate addressed to Pondicherry, French India, cover with some minor ink erosion, still Fine and very rare use of this Danish settlement marking and noted as rare by Giles, especially so to Pondicherry, a French settlement, this marking is not recorded used during the British periods, Tranquebar was a Danish territory from 1620 until the British captured it during the Napoleonic Wars in 1808 and held it until 1814 (before being sold back to the British in 1845), with 1998 R.P.S. certificate Certificate 1998 R.P.S. No. 170712

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About this mark

The Tranquebar HG 1 handstamp

Tranquebar is a town and a port in Tanjore District, Madras Presidency, 18 miles north of Negapatam, situated 11°2' N and 79°52' E. It was a Danish settlement with fort built in 1620. It was taken by the East India Company in 1801, but restored to Denmark in 1814. It was finally purchased by the British in 1845.

Tranquebar HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Tranquebar — the present-day Tharangambadi — in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1800 to 1829. 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".

6 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 "Rare" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for tranquebar pre stamp covers, tranquebar postal history or "Tranquebar HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Tranquebar marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Tranquebar HG 1 handstamp?: Tranquebar HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Tranquebar (modern Tharangambadi) in the Madras Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1800 to 1829. 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 Tranquebar HG 1?: Tranquebar 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. 6 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does a Tranquebar pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Tranquebar 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. 6 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 Tranquebar 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 (1800–1829). 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 Tranquebar

7 marks

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

View all Tranquebar marks and postal history →

Suggest a correction

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Also searched as: Tranquebar HG 1, Tranquebar HG1, Tranquebar Giles 1, Tharangambadi postal history, Tranquebar handstamp, Tranquebar pre stamp cover.

How to cite

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

Updated: 10 Aug 2026