- Handstamps
- 22
- Recorded
- 1823–1855
- Rare
- 6
Administrative headquarters of Agra District, United Provinces, situated in 27°10' N and 78°5' E, on the right bank of the River Jumna, 843 miles from Calcutta and 839 miles from Bombay. Former residence of the Lodi Kings, and then the Mogul Emperors. Captured from the Marathas in 1803 by Lord Lake, and became the seat of Government when the Presidency of Agra was founded in 1835. Previous to 1835, an ex-territorial Post Office was established in Agra — 1823, or, possibly, earlier. Agra is a city on the banks of the Yamuna in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, about 230 km south-east of Delhi. It is best known as the home of the Taj Mahal, and was the capital of the Mughal Empire under several emperors.
Agra has 22 pre-1854 hand-struck postal markings dated 1823–1855 recorded in this census. Each figure links to its covers, rarity and provenance.
Brown border = community submission, verified by editors
Agra handstamp summary
All recorded markings at a glance — click any row for full details and covers.
| Mark | Type | Colour | Dates | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HG 1 | Handstamp | Black | 1823–1837 | Common |
| HG 2 | Handstamp | Red | 1828 | 1 example recorded |
| HG 3 | Handstamp | Black | 1835 | Common |
| HG 4 | Handstamp | Black | 1833–1837 | Common |
| HG 4A | Handstamp | Red | 1837 | 1 example recorded |
| HG 5 | Handstamp | Black | 1837–1850 | Common |
| HG 6 | Handstamp | Red | 1838–1849 | Common |
| HG 7 | Handstamp | Orange | 1843 | 2 examples recorded |
| HG 8 | Handstamp | Red | 1844–1850 | Common |
| HG 9 | Handstamp | Black | 1844 | Common |
| HG 10 | Handstamp | Red | 1844 | Common |
| HG 11 | Handstamp | Red | 1845–1851 | Common |
| HG 12 | Handstamp | Black | 1842–1850 | Common |
| HG 13 | Handstamp | Red | 1848 | Common |
| HG 14 | Handstamp | Black | 1851 | Very scarce |
| HG 14a | Handstamp | Red | 1854 | Rare |
| HG 15 | Handstamp | RedBlack | 1852–1854 | Common |
| HG 16 | Handstamp | Black | 1853 | Common |
| HG 17 | Handstamp | Red | 1851–1853 | Common |
| HG 18 | Handstamp | Black | 1853 | Common |
| HG 19 | Handstamp | Red | 1850 | 1 example recorded |
| HG 20 | Handstamp | Red | 1855 | Scarce |
Frequently asked — Agra postal history
- What are the pre stamp covers of Agra?
- Pre stamp (pre philatelic) covers of Agra are folded letters and envelopes that passed through the Agra post office before India's first adhesive stamp of 1854, so postage was shown entirely by hand-struck postal markings and manuscript rates. Agra was a post office of the North Western Provinces, British India, and this census records 22 distinct postal markings used there, dated between 1823 and 1855.
- How many handstamps are recorded for Agra?
- 22 hand-struck postal markings are recorded for Agra in this census, of which 6 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.
- How do I identify an Agra 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 Agra 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: Agra, Akbarabad, Agra City, Agra HG 1, Agra handstruck stamps, Agra pre stamp covers, Agra postal history.
How to cite
“Agra, North Western Provinces — pre-1854 handstruck stamps & covers,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/n-w-provinces/agra (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026
An unrecorded mark from Agra?
If you hold a cover or strike from Agra 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 North Western Provinces
Explore the pre-1854 postal history of other North Western Provinces post offices — each page lists its recorded handstruck markings, dates and surviving covers.