What is the Cawnpore HG 16 handstamp?

Cawnpore HG 16 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Cawnpore (modern Kanpur) in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1852. The "HG 16" 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 Cawnpore HG 16?

Cawnpore HG 16 is graded "Common" 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 a Cawnpore pre stamp cover with HG 16 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 16. 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 a Cawnpore HG 16 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1852). 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.

Cawnpore HG 16 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1852, Red

North Western Provinces · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Cawnpore HG 16

Handstamp

Colour & date: Red1852
Rarity: Common
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 66
Figure: 16
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 15 All Cawnpore HG 17 →

Census

Census records

1 cover recorded

1 pre-1854 cover bearing the Cawnpore HG 16 handstamp is recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-2825

21 July 1852

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About this mark

The Cawnpore HG 16 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 16 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 1852. Known strikes are in red. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 16".

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 "Common" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for cawnpore pre stamp covers, cawnpore postal history or "Cawnpore HG16" material can compare HG 16 across every office or browse the rest of the Cawnpore marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Cawnpore HG 16 handstamp?: Cawnpore HG 16 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Cawnpore (modern Kanpur) in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1852. The "HG 16" 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 Cawnpore HG 16?: Cawnpore HG 16 is graded "Common" 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 a Cawnpore pre stamp cover with HG 16 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 16. 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 a Cawnpore HG 16 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1852). 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

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Also searched as: Cawnpore HG 16, Cawnpore HG16, Cawnpore Giles 16, Kanpur postal history, Cawnpore handstamp, Cawnpore pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Cawnpore HG 16 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/n-w-provinces/cawnpore/hg-16 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026