North Western Provinces · Pre-1854 Handstamp
Shamlee HG 1
- Colour & date
- Black1850
- Rarity
- Common
- Catalogue
- 1989 Catalogue · p. 191
- Figure
- 1
- Submitted by
- D. Hammond Giles
Census
Census records
0 covers recordedNo pre stamp cover bearing the Shamlee HG 1 handstamp has been recorded yet. If you hold one, submit it below.
No covers bearing this mark have been recorded yet. If you hold one, your submission — once reviewed — will appear here.
About this mark
The Shamlee HG 1 handstamp
Shamlee is a town in Muzaffarnagar District, United Provinces, on the road from Muzaffarnagar to Kairana, situated 29°27' N and 77°18' E. In 1794 it became the residence of a Maratha commandant. In 1804 Col. Burn was surrounded here by an overwhelming force of Marathas, and was only relieved by Lord Lake during an opportune advance.
Shamlee HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Shamlee — the present-day Shamli — in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1850. 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".
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 "Common" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for shamlee pre stamp covers, shamlee postal history or "Shamlee HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Shamlee marks.
Frequently asked
- What is the Shamlee HG 1 handstamp?
- Shamlee HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Shamlee (modern Shamli) in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1850. 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 Shamlee HG 1?
- Shamlee 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. 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 Shamlee pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Shamlee 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. 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 Shamlee 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 (1850). 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: Shamlee HG 1, Shamlee HG1, Shamlee Giles 1, Shamli postal history, Shamlee handstamp, Shamlee pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Shamlee HG 1 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/n-w-provinces/shamlee/hg-1 (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026