What is the Cawnpore HG 15A handstamp?

Cawnpore HG 15A is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Cawnpore (modern Kanpur) in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1851. The "HG 15A" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in orange.

How rare is Cawnpore HG 15A?

Cawnpore HG 15A is graded "Scarce" 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 Cawnpore pre stamp cover with HG 15A 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 15A. 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 Cawnpore HG 15A cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1851). 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 15A

Handstamp

Colour & date: Orange1851
Rarity: Scarce
Figure: 15A
Submitted by: Gowtham BJ

← HG 15 All Cawnpore HG 16 →

Census

Census records

2 covers recorded

2 pre-1854 covers bearing the Cawnpore HG 15A handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-4740

1851

Inde British India 1851? Used Stampless Cover Cawnpore Kanpur To Lucknow

COV-4741

1851

Inde British India 1851? Used Stampless Cover Cawnpore Kanpur To Lucknow

Compare HG 15A across every office →

About this mark

The Cawnpore HG 15A 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 15A is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Cawnpore — the present-day Kanpur — in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1851. Known strikes are in orange. Its "HG 15A" designation is the figure number assigned in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India.

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 "Scarce" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for cawnpore pre stamp covers, cawnpore postal history or "Cawnpore HG15A" material can compare HG 15A across every office or browse the rest of the Cawnpore marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Cawnpore HG 15A handstamp?: Cawnpore HG 15A is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Cawnpore (modern Kanpur) in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1851. The "HG 15A" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in orange.
How rare is Cawnpore HG 15A?: Cawnpore HG 15A is graded "Scarce" 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 Cawnpore pre stamp cover with HG 15A 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 15A. 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 Cawnpore HG 15A cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1851). 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

19 marks

19 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 15A, Cawnpore HG15A, Cawnpore Giles 15A, Kanpur postal history, Cawnpore handstamp, Cawnpore pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Cawnpore HG 15A — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/n-w-provinces/cawnpore/hg-15a (accessed 25 August 2026).

Updated: 25 Aug 2026