Post office · Madras Presidency
Trichinopoly
- Handstamps
- 21
- Recorded
- 1788–1858
- Rare
- 4
Trichinopoly, headquarters of the District of the same name, Madras Presidency, is situated 10°49' N and 78°42' E on the right bank of the Cauvery River, 195 miles from Madras. Scene of frequent hostilities between the English and French during the Carnatic Wars. In 1781 the Nawab of the Carnatic assigned the revenues of the Carnatic, including Trichi,nopoly, to the East. India Company, but in 1792 the assignment was surrend.ered, although Trichinopoly continued to be commanded by the Company officers. In 1801 it was ceded to the Company, with the rest of the Carnatic, by the Nawab of Arcot.
Trichinopoly has 21 pre-1854 hand-struck postal markings dated 1788–1858 recorded in this census. Each figure links to its covers, rarity and provenance.
Brown border = community submission, verified by editors
Trichinopoly handstamp summary
All recorded markings at a glance — click any row for full details and covers.
| Mark | Type | Colour | Dates | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HG Add | Handstamp | Black | 1788–1790 | 2 examples recorded |
| HG 1B | Handstamp | Black | 1799 | 1 example recorded |
| HG 1 | Handstamp | Black | 1817–1831 | Scarce |
| HG 1A | Handstamp | Black | 1788–1790 | Rare |
| HG 2 | Handstamp | Black | 1824–1827 | Scarce |
| HG 3 | Handstamp | Black | 1825 | Common |
| HG 3a | Handstamp | Black | 1825 | 1 example recorded |
| HG 4 | Handstamp | Red | 1825–1829 | Common |
| HG 5 | Handstamp | Red | 1833–1834 | Common |
| HG 6 | Handstamp | Black | 1831–1834 | Common |
| HG 7 | Handstamp | Red | 1836 | Common |
| HG 8 | Handstamp | Red | 1838–1845 | Common |
| HG 9 | Handstamp | Black | 1839–1841 | Common |
| HG 10 | Handstamp | Red | 1838–1843 | Common |
| HG 11 | Handstamp | Red | 1846–1856 | Common |
| HG 12 | Handstamp | Black | 1853 | Common |
| HG 13 | Handstamp | Red | 1845–1850 | Common |
| HG 13A | Handstamp | Red | 1848–1852 | Common |
| HG 14 | Handstamp | Red | 1837–1857 | Common |
| HG 15 | Handstamp | Black | 1857–1858 | Common |
| HG 16 | Handstamp | Black | 1849–1857 | Common |
Frequently asked — Trichinopoly postal history
- What are the pre stamp covers of Trichinopoly?
- Pre stamp (pre philatelic) covers of Trichinopoly are folded letters and envelopes that passed through the Trichinopoly post office before India's first adhesive stamp of 1854, so postage was shown entirely by hand-struck postal markings and manuscript rates. Trichinopoly was a post office of the Madras Presidency, British India, and this census records 21 distinct postal markings used there, dated between 1788 and 1858.
- How many handstamps are recorded for Trichinopoly?
- 21 hand-struck postal markings are recorded for Trichinopoly in this census, of which 4 are graded rare or better. Each mark carries its Hammond Giles catalogue figure number, colour, date range, evidence-based rarity grade, and links to every surviving cover recorded with it.
- What is Trichinopoly called today?
- Trichinopoly is the colonial-era name of present-day Tiruchirappalli, India. The office also appears in postal history literature and auction catalogues as Tiruchirapalli, Trichy, Trichinopoli. Covers and postmarks are catalogued here under the historical name used on the marks themselves.
- How do I identify a Trichinopoly postmark or cover?
- Compare your cover against the reference impressions on this page — each figure shows the mark's design, ink colour and recorded date range. If your Trichinopoly cover bears a mark that matches a figure, open that figure's page to see every recorded example with provenance. If it matches none, it may be unrecorded: submit photographs through the form on this page and the editors will review it for inclusion in the census.
Also searched as: Trichinopoly, Tiruchirappalli, Trichy, Tiruchirapalli, Trichinopoly HG 1, Trichinopoly handstruck stamps, Trichinopoly pre stamp covers, Trichinopoly postal history.
How to cite
“Trichinopoly, Madras Presidency — pre-1854 handstruck stamps & covers,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/madras/trichinopoly (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026
An unrecorded mark from Trichinopoly?
If you hold a cover or strike from Trichinopoly that does not match any figure above, submit it below. Approved additions appear here as new entries in the census — every submission is reviewed first.
Same presidency
Other post offices in the Madras Presidency
Explore the pre-1854 postal history of other Madras Presidency post offices — each page lists its recorded handstruck markings, dates and surviving covers.