What is the Gwalior HG 8 handstamp?

Gwalior HG 8 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Gwalior in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1848. The "HG 8" 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 Gwalior HG 8?

Gwalior HG 8 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 3 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.

What does a Gwalior pre stamp cover with HG 8 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Gwalior 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 8. 3 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 Gwalior HG 8 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1848). 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

Gwalior HG 8

Handstamp

Colour & date: Black1848
Rarity: Common
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 98
Figure: 8
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 7 All Gwalior HG 9 →

Census

Census records

3 covers recorded

3 pre-1854 covers bearing the Gwalior HG 8 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-2483

7 September 1848

1848 Gwalior – Forres overland cover via Bombay & Marseilles route, with Gwalior "GWALIOR/RECEIVING HOUSE/Paid" despatch hand stamp, date "7th Septr. 48" & rate "8as" (paid 8A double-letter inland postage to Bombay for a letter weighing between ¼ and 1 tolah, travelling 500–700 miles; the distance from Gwalior to Bombay was 680 miles) applied in manuscript. At Bombay, Giles SD6 "INDIA" port transit mark applied, then sent to Aden via EIC steamer SEMIRAMIS II from Bombay on 15th September, onward to Suez via P&O steamer BENTINCK, travelled overland to Alexandria, and from there sent to Malta via P&O steamer INDUS, then to Marseilles via H.M.'s packet TRITON, finally reaching London, where "ON/26 OC 26/1848" receipt mark was applied. "2/3" (indicating 2s3d double-letter India–UK combined British packet rate, comprising 1s5d British postage & 10d French postage via the Marseilles route, for a letter weighing ¼–½ oz.) bearing postage applied and collected from the recipient. "FORRES/27 OC/1848" delivery mark applied.

COV-1938

10 September 1848

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-3740

12 September 1848

India 1848 Folded Letter from Gwalior to Agra with Handstruck Postage, Bearing 1-6 As. Features Gwalior and Agra postmarks, Giles Type 8 and Type 12 stamps in black.

Compare HG 8 across every office →

About this mark

The Gwalior HG 8 handstamp

Gwalior State was the largest treaty State in the Central India Agency, under the political supervision of a Resident at Gwalior, the original capital of the State, though later replaced by Lashkar. Gwalior fort is one of the most famous in India. The house of Sindhia founded by Ranoji Sindhia, and during the latter part of the 18th century, with the assistance of Benoit De Boigne and his genius for organisation and command in the field, the Maratha supremacy was established. In 1843 a British force under Sir Hugh Gough moved on Gwalior, and during the battles of Panniar and Maharajpur, the Gwalior army was annihilated. A Council of Regency was then appointed during the minority of an adopted son of the former ruler's widow, to act under the Resident's advice.

Gwalior HG 8 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Gwalior in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1848. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 8".

3 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 gwalior pre stamp covers, gwalior postal history or "Gwalior HG8" material can compare HG 8 across every office or browse the rest of the Gwalior marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Gwalior HG 8 handstamp?: Gwalior HG 8 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Gwalior in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1848. The "HG 8" 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 Gwalior HG 8?: Gwalior HG 8 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 3 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does a Gwalior pre stamp cover with HG 8 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Gwalior 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 8. 3 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 Gwalior HG 8 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1848). 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 Gwalior

9 marks

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

View all Gwalior 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: Gwalior HG 8, Gwalior HG8, Gwalior Giles 8, Gwalior handstamp, Gwalior pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Gwalior HG 8 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/n-w-provinces/gwalior/hg-8 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026