What is the Cawnpore HG 5 handstamp?

Cawnpore HG 5 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Cawnpore (modern Kanpur) in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1826. The "HG 5" 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 5?

Cawnpore HG 5 is graded "Scarce" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example.

What does a Cawnpore pre stamp cover with HG 5 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 5. No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example. Each census record on this page links to full cover images, dates and auction provenance.

How do I identify or submit a Cawnpore HG 5 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1826). 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 5

Handstamp

Colour & date: Black1826
Rarity: Scarce
Note: Scarce
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 65
Figure: 5
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

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Census

Census records

0 covers recorded

No pre stamp cover bearing the Cawnpore HG 5 handstamp has been recorded yet. If you hold one, submit it below.

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About this mark

The Cawnpore HG 5 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 5 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 1826. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 5".

No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example. 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 HG5" material can compare HG 5 across every office or browse the rest of the Cawnpore marks.

Scarce

Frequently asked

What is the Cawnpore HG 5 handstamp?: Cawnpore HG 5 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Cawnpore (modern Kanpur) in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1826. The "HG 5" 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 5?: Cawnpore HG 5 is graded "Scarce" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example.
What does a Cawnpore pre stamp cover with HG 5 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 5. No surviving cover bearing this mark has been recorded in the census yet — if you hold one, it may be the first recorded example. Each census record on this page links to full cover images, dates and auction provenance.
How do I identify or submit a Cawnpore HG 5 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1826). 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 5, Cawnpore HG5, Cawnpore Giles 5, Kanpur postal history, Cawnpore handstamp, Cawnpore pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Cawnpore HG 5 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/n-w-provinces/cawnpore/hg-5 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026