What is the Kurnaul (NWP) HG 1 handstamp?

Kurnaul (NWP) HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Kurnaul (NWP) (modern Karnal) in the North Western Provinces, British India, in recorded use from 1826 to 1837. 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 Kurnaul (NWP) HG 1?

Kurnaul (NWP) HG 1 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 10 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.

What does a Kurnaul (NWP) pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Kurnaul (NWP) 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. 10 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 Kurnaul (NWP) 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 (1826–1837). 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.

Kurnaul (NWP) HG 1 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1826–1837, Black

North Western Provinces · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Kurnaul (NWP) HG 1

Handstamp

Colour & date: Black1826–1837
Rarity: Common
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 120
Figure: 1
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

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Census

Census records

10 covers recorded

10 pre-1854 covers bearing the Kurnaul (NWP) HG 1 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-262

29 April 1826

India, Kurnaul, 1826, "KURNAL/POST PAID/18__" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1). Bold and clear strike with manuscript "29 april (18) 26" date and "1-2as" rate added on back of folded letter to "Brigadier H Pepper, Commanding the Troops at Pegu, Rangoon" , forwarded to Madras, red "PM" handstamp, Calcutta General Post Office (May 12, Giles SD8b), red Calcutta G.P.O. (Jul. 11, Giles G8), and Madras Ship Letter (Jul. 27, Giles SD12) transit datestamps, manuscript "dead" at bottom left, cover with insignificant flap tear affecting Madras datestamp, Very Fine, by the time of delivery, Lt. Col. Hercules Henry Pepper returned to Fort St. George (Madras) from fighting in the First Anglo-Burmese War, he passed away on Jul. 25, 1826, just two days prior to this letter arriving

COV-834

19 July 1826

1826 : H.G.1 : Letter from KURNAL [19 July 1826] to GORUCKPOOR via PATNA [7 Apr]. Total distance from KURNAL to PATNA 750 miles and PATNA to GORUCKPOOR 150 miles, totaling 900 miles. The postage paid for 900 miles for letter not exceeding one tola was 13 as.

COV-1023

23 July 1826

India, Kurnaul, 1826, "KURNAL/POST PAID/18__" Boxed Handstamp (Giles 1). Bold strike with manuscript "23 July (18)26" date and "1-8 ans" rate added on back of folded letter to Lieut Colonel H.H. Pepper in Madras, Madras (Aug. 21) arrival backstamp, Very Fine

COV-649

7 February 1828

"KURNAL/POST PAID/18__" Boxed Handstamp (Giles 1). Clearly struck.

COV-2244

18 October 1828

BRIGHTON INDIA LETTERS IN RED OR BLACK - WITH KURNAL OR CUMBACUNUM "POST PAID" MARKS, ETC.; 1837-39 covers (4) ex India to GB all with scarce boxed "INDIA LETTER/BRIGHTON" marks (fair to fine; one red & the others black); 1827 with mainly fine and scarce ms-dated boxed "KURNAL/POST PAID", 1832 with fair red boxed "CUMBACUNUM/POST PAID", 1834 EL (long cross-written family letter) ex "Allahabad" with partly fine rare red boxed "INDIA LETTER/BRIGHTON", and 1839 ex Madras. Plus an 1828 E (origin unknown) with overstruck boxed step-type "BRIGHTON/SHIP LETTER". (5 covers) Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS, SUSSEX

COV-2396

26 August 1831

1831 Kurnal – Devonshire entire via Calcutta & Cape route, with Kurnal Giles 1 "KURNAL/POST PAID/18.." despatch handstamp, date "26th Augt. 31" & rate "11 as" (paid 11A, comprising 8A half-letter inland postage to Calcutta, as under ½ Tolah wt., + 3A outward sea postage). At Calcutta, Giles SD9 "CALCUTTA/GPO/SHIP LETTER/8 SE 8/1831" transit applied & sent to the UK via the Cape route, entered in the UK through Kingsbridge port & there "INDIA LETTER/KINGSBRIDGE" transit mark applied & intended to be sent to London, for that "1/3" (1s 3d, comprising 11d single-letter inland postage Kingsbridge to London + 4d inward ship postage) applied, but obliterated & updated to bearing postage "1/" (comprising 8d direct Kingsbridge–Exeter inland rate + 4d inward ship postage) applied. Finally delivered at Exeter, with "A/6 AP 6/1832" delivery mark applied, bearing 1s collected from the recipient.

COV-2969

18 September 1833

H/S : KURNAL/POST PAID 1833 : Letter from Kumal (18 Sep.) via Calcutta (28 Sep.), London to Hants. As per Postal Notice of 11th April, 1832, new higher rates for inland introduced. Accordingly postage prepaid to Calcutta 12 as. + Ship Postage 3 as. 15 as. Bearing: in U.K. Ship 4d. + London-Hants (double letter) 1/4d. = 1/8 d.

COV-916

27 August 1835

1835 Folded entire from Kurnal to Sabathoo, bearing black boxed KURNAL/POST PAID on reverse, paying the 3 annas rate, mounted on album page plus transcription of enclosed letter, scarce

COV-2819

1 January 1836

COV-568

19 October 1837

Kurnaul: 1.837 (19 Oct.) entire letter to Calcutta showing, on reverse, fine fiamed "runrsar/posr paro" d.s. (HG 1) completed for 14a.; the contents refer to a duel benveen rwo Oficers resulting in the death of one and the Court Martial of the other. Photo

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About this mark

The Kurnaul (NWP) HG 1 handstamp

Headquarters of Kurnaul District, Punjab, situated 29°41' N and 70°59' E, on the old bank of the Jumna river, 1030 miles from Calcutta and 1056 from Bombay. The British took Kurnaul from Gurdit Singh of Ladwa in 1805, and formed a cantonment, which was abandoned in 1841, owing to the unhealthiness of the station.

Kurnaul (NWP) HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Kurnaul (NWP) — the present-day Karnal — in the North Western Provinces, British India, in recorded use from 1826 to 1837. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 1".

10 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 kurnaul (nwp) pre stamp covers, kurnaul (nwp) postal history or "Kurnaul (NWP) HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Kurnaul (NWP) marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Kurnaul (NWP) HG 1 handstamp?: Kurnaul (NWP) HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Kurnaul (NWP) (modern Karnal) in the North Western Provinces, British India, in recorded use from 1826 to 1837. 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 Kurnaul (NWP) HG 1?: Kurnaul (NWP) HG 1 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 10 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does a Kurnaul (NWP) pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Kurnaul (NWP) 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. 10 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 Kurnaul (NWP) 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 (1826–1837). 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 Kurnaul (NWP)

5 marks

5 other pre-1854 postal markings of Kurnaul (NWP) are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.

View all Kurnaul (NWP) marks and postal history →

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Also searched as: Kurnaul (NWP) HG 1, Kurnaul (NWP) HG1, Kurnaul (NWP) Giles 1, Karnal postal history, Kurnaul (NWP) handstamp, Kurnaul (NWP) pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Kurnaul (NWP) HG 1 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/n-w-provinces/kurnaul-nwp/hg-1 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026