North Western Provinces · Pre-1854 Handstamp
Governor General's Headquarters HG 1
- Colour & date
- Black1832
- Rarity
- Rare
- Note
- Rare
- Catalogue
- 1993 Supplement · p. 15
- Figure
- 1
- Submitted by
- D. Hammond Giles
Census
Census records
2 covers recorded2 pre-1854 covers bearing the Governor General's Headquarters HG 1 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.
About this mark
The Governor General's Headquarters HG 1 handstamp
The Governor-General's Headquarters post office travelled with the Governor-General of India and his camp on tour, serving the official party rather than a fixed town.
Governor General's Headquarters HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Governor General's Headquarters in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1832. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 1993 Supplement, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 1".
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 "Rare" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for governor general's headquarters pre stamp covers, governor general's headquarters postal history or "Governor General's Headquarters HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Governor General's Headquarters marks.
Rare
Frequently asked
- What is the Governor General's Headquarters HG 1 handstamp?
- Governor General's Headquarters HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Governor General's Headquarters in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1832. The "HG 1" 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 Governor General's Headquarters HG 1?
- Governor General's Headquarters HG 1 is graded "Rare" 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 Governor General's Headquarters pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Governor General's Headquarters 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 1. 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 Governor General's Headquarters HG 1 cover?
- Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1832). 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.
Suggest a correction
Spotted a wrong date, colour or rarity? Propose a change — every suggestion is reviewed before it is applied.
Also searched as: Governor General's Headquarters HG 1, Governor General's Headquarters HG1, Governor General's Headquarters Giles 1, Governor General's Headquarters handstamp, Governor General's Headquarters pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Governor General's Headquarters HG 1 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/n-w-provinces/governor-generals-headquarters/hg-1 (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026