- Handstamps
- 16
- Recorded
- 1809–1855
- Rare
- 5
Lucknow, former capital of the province of Oudh and cantonment, is situated 26°52' N and 80°56' E, on the banks of the Gumti River, 666 miles from Calcutta and 885 miles from Bombay. With the decline of the Moghal empire, Lucknow became a place of some importance under the Suri kings, and rose to greatness as the capital of the dynasty which established itself in Oudh. Ghazi-din Haidar in 1814 was the first of his line who bore the title of king, and Wajid Ali Shah, the fifth and last king of O udh (1847-56). In 1856 Oudh was annexed and came under British rule. Lucknow will long be remembered for the notorious seige of the Residency in the 1857 uprising.
Lucknow has 16 pre-1854 hand-struck postal markings dated 1809–1855 recorded in this census. Each figure links to its covers, rarity and provenance.
Brown border = community submission, verified by editors
Lucknow handstamp summary
All recorded markings at a glance — click any row for full details and covers.
| Mark | Type | Colour | Dates | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HG 1 | Handstamp | Black | 1809–1835 | Common |
| HG 2 | Handstamp | Red | 1838–1845 | 3 examples recorded |
| HG 3 | Handstamp | Black | 1833 | 1 example recorded |
| HG 4 | Handstamp | Black | 1835–1836 | 2 examples recorded |
| HG 5 | Handstamp | Red | 1842–1845 | Common |
| HG 5a | Handstamp | Red | 1841 | Common |
| HG 5b | Handstamp | Red | 1837 | Common |
| HG 6 | Handstamp | BlackRed | 1844–1847 | Rare |
| HG 7 | Handstamp | Green | 1846 | Rare |
| HG 8 | Handstamp | Red | 1844–1849 | Common |
| HG 9 | Handstamp | Black | 1845 | Common |
| HG 10 | Handstamp | Black | 1849–1855 | Common |
| HG 11 | Handstamp | Red | 1849 | Common |
| HG 12 | Handstamp | Black | 1852–1854 | Common |
| HG 12A | Handstamp | Black | 1853 | Scarce |
| HG 13 | Handstamp | Red | 1838–1854 | Common |
Frequently asked — Lucknow postal history
- What are the pre stamp covers of Lucknow?
- Pre stamp (pre philatelic) covers of Lucknow are folded letters and envelopes that passed through the Lucknow post office before India's first adhesive stamp of 1854, so postage was shown entirely by hand-struck postal markings and manuscript rates. Lucknow was a post office of the North Western Provinces, British India, and this census records 16 distinct postal markings used there, dated between 1809 and 1855.
- How many handstamps are recorded for Lucknow?
- 16 hand-struck postal markings are recorded for Lucknow in this census, of which 5 are graded rare or better. Each mark carries its Hammond Giles catalogue figure number, colour, date range, evidence-based rarity grade, and links to every surviving cover recorded with it.
- How do I identify a Lucknow postmark or cover?
- Compare your cover against the reference impressions on this page — each figure shows the mark's design, ink colour and recorded date range. If your Lucknow cover bears a mark that matches a figure, open that figure's page to see every recorded example with provenance. If it matches none, it may be unrecorded: submit photographs through the form on this page and the editors will review it for inclusion in the census.
Also searched as: Lucknow, Lakhnau, Lucknow City, Luckhnow, Lucknow HG 1, Lucknow handstruck stamps, Lucknow pre stamp covers, Lucknow postal history.
How to cite
“Lucknow, North Western Provinces — pre-1854 handstruck stamps & covers,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/n-w-provinces/lucknow (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026
An unrecorded mark from Lucknow?
If you hold a cover or strike from Lucknow that does not match any figure above, submit it below. Approved additions appear here as new entries in the census — every submission is reviewed first.
Same presidency
Other post offices in the North Western Provinces
Explore the pre-1854 postal history of other North Western Provinces post offices — each page lists its recorded handstruck markings, dates and surviving covers.