What is the Cawnpore HG 10 handstamp?

Cawnpore HG 10 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Cawnpore (modern Kanpur) in the North Western Provinces, British India, in recorded use from 1837 to 1845. The "HG 10" 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 Cawnpore HG 10?

Cawnpore HG 10 is graded "Common" 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 Cawnpore pre stamp cover with HG 10 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Cawnpore 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 10. 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 Cawnpore HG 10 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1837-45). 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.

North Western Provinces · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Cawnpore HG 10

Handstamp All India common handstamp

Date Span: 1837-45
Colour: Black
Rarity: Common
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 66
Figure: 10
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 9 All Cawnpore HG 11 →

Census

Census records

6 covers recorded

6 pre-1854 covers bearing the Cawnpore HG 10 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-3535

1838

COV-1936

14 February 1838

1838-64 group of letters (4) all with boxed 'Bearing' cachets comprising 1838 (Feb.) entire letter from Cawnpore to Patna and with boxed 'cawnpore/ bearing' handstamp in black, 1843 native entire letter with boxed 'mynpooree/ bearing' cachet in black, 1848 (Sept.) entire letter to Agra with boxed 'gwalior/ bearing' handstamp in black and 1864 (Sept.) part entire with on the reverse clear 'rungpore/ bearing' handstamp in black; a good group of scarce hand struck markings

COV-4133

8 May 1838

Entire posted from Cawnpore to Patna with "Cawnpore/ 1838 May 8/ Bearing" HG10 All India type handstamp with slide in black color with postage due bearing of 8 annas to be collected at the recepient.

COV-2272

September 1838

COV-1457

21 April 1845

1845 Incoming cover from Bristol UK to Meerut. Redirected to Cawnpore with MEERUT Bearing Giles 9 and CAWNPORE Bearing Giles 10 (very late usage)

COV-1338

10 August 1845

1845 DERAH DOON Bearing HG 3 (Giles records usage in 1848 only, this is used 3 years earlier) on fl from Cawnpore with CAWNPORE Bearing HG 10

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About this mark

The Cawnpore HG 10 handstamp

Cawnpore, (a corrupt spelling of Kanhpur) is situated 26°28' N and 80°21' E, on the right bank of the Ganges River, 120 miles above its junction with the Jumna at Allahabad, in the United Provinces. Following the British victories in 1764-5 at Buxar and Jajmau, a treaty was made at Fyzabad in 1773 with the Nawab Wazir of Oudh, who allowed the British to occupy two stations in his territories with troops. The first selected was Fatehgarh, and a site in the Hardoi District, but in 1778 the troops were moved from the latter place to Cawnpore, and in 1801 the District, with others, was ceded by the Nawab. In 1857, Cawnpore was the scene of several of the most terrible episodes of the Mutiny.

Cawnpore HG 10 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Cawnpore — the present-day Kanpur — in the North Western Provinces, British India, in recorded use from 1837 to 1845. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 10".

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 "Common" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for cawnpore pre stamp covers, cawnpore postal history or "Cawnpore HG10" material can compare HG 10 across every office or browse the rest of the Cawnpore marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Cawnpore HG 10 handstamp?: Cawnpore HG 10 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Cawnpore (modern Kanpur) in the North Western Provinces, British India, in recorded use from 1837 to 1845. The "HG 10" 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 Cawnpore HG 10?: Cawnpore HG 10 is graded "Common" 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 Cawnpore pre stamp cover with HG 10 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Cawnpore 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 10. 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 Cawnpore HG 10 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1837-45). 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 Cawnpore

18 marks

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

View all Cawnpore marks and postal history →

Suggest a correction

Spotted a wrong date, colour or rarity? Propose a change — every suggestion is reviewed before it is applied.

Also searched as: Cawnpore HG 10, Cawnpore HG10, Cawnpore Giles 10, Kanpur postal history, Cawnpore handstamp, Cawnpore pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Cawnpore HG 10 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/n-w-provinces/cawnpore/hg-10 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026