North Western Provinces · Pre-1854 Handstamp
Bhopal HG 3
- Colour & date
- Red1853–1856
- Rarity
- Common
- Catalogue
- 1993 Supplement · p. 8
- Figure
- 3
- Submitted by
- D. Hammond Giles
Census
Census records
2 covers recorded2 pre-1854 covers bearing the Bhopal HG 3 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.
About this mark
The Bhopal HG 3 handstamp
Bhopal is the capital of the Indian State, situated 23°16' N and 77°25' E, 521 miles from Bombay.
Bhopal HG 3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Bhopal in the North Western Provinces, British India, in recorded use from 1853 to 1856. Known strikes are in red. It is listed in 1993 Supplement, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 3".
2 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 "Common" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for bhopal pre stamp covers, bhopal postal history or "Bhopal HG3" material can compare HG 3 across every office or browse the rest of the Bhopal marks.
Frequently asked
- What is the Bhopal HG 3 handstamp?
- Bhopal HG 3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Bhopal in the North Western Provinces, British India, in recorded use from 1853 to 1856. The "HG 3" 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 Bhopal HG 3?
- Bhopal HG 3 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 2 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
- What does a Bhopal pre stamp cover with HG 3 look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Bhopal 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. 2 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 Bhopal 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 (1853–1856). 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 Bhopal
4 marks4 other pre-1854 postal markings of Bhopal are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
Suggest a correction
Spotted a wrong date, colour or rarity? Propose a change — every suggestion is reviewed before it is applied.
Also searched as: Bhopal HG 3, Bhopal HG3, Bhopal Giles 3, Bhopal handstamp, Bhopal pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Bhopal HG 3 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/n-w-provinces/bhopal/hg-3 (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026