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Hand Struck Stamps
Agra HG 4A — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1837, Red

North Western Provinces · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Agra HG 4A

Handstamp
Colour & date
Red1837
Rarity
1 example recorded
Note
Spink 25016 - Stamps and Covers of Asia
Figure
4A
Submitted by
Gowtham BJ
← HG 4All AgraHG 5 →

Census

Census records

1 cover recorded

1 pre-1854 cover bearing the Agra HG 4A handstamp is recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-557 pre-stamp cover
COV-557

12 September 1837

1837 (12 Sept.) part entire (side flaps removed) from London to East India Company Artillery at Agra, via Calcutta, endorsed "Paid", struck with circled "g.p/paid", "ship letter/london" and "tp" all in red, the reverse with London Paid d.s., boxed Calcutta Ship letter d.s. and "a.p.o." boxed handstamp with manuscript date "5 July", unrecorded by Giles; entire sealed with attractive yellow wafer.

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About this mark

The Agra HG 4A handstamp

Agra HG 4A is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Agra in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1837. Known strikes are in red. Its "HG 4A" designation is the figure number assigned in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India.

A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, with images and provenance. On the strength of that count the mark is graded "1 example recorded" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for agra pre-stamp covers, agra postal history or "Agra HG4A" material can compare HG 4A across every office or browse the rest of the Agra marks.

Spink 25016 - Stamps and Covers of Asia

Frequently asked

What is the Agra HG 4A handstamp?
Agra HG 4A is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Agra in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1837. The "HG 4A" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in red.
How rare is Agra HG 4A?
Agra HG 4A has 1 example recorded in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, with images and provenance.
What does an Agra pre-stamp cover with HG 4A look like?
A pre-stamp (pre-philatelic) cover from Agra 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 4A. A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, 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 an Agra HG 4A cover?
Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1837). 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.

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Also searched as: Agra HG 4A, Agra HG4A, Agra Giles 4A, Agra handstamp, Agra pre-stamp cover.

How to cite

“Agra HG 4A — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/n-w-provinces/agra/hg-4a (accessed 12 July 2026).

Updated: 12 Jul 2026