Census
Census records
1 cover recorded1 pre-1854 cover bearing the Sirsa HG 1 handstamp is recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.
About this mark
The Sirsa HG 1 handstamp
Sirsa has been identified with two earlier names: Sarsūti in medieval sources and Śairīṣaka in ancient literature.[7]: 1 [8] Sarsūti appears to come from the name of the Sarasvati River, which once flowed near Sirsa. Ancient texts mentioning Śairīṣaka include the Mahābhārata, where it is mentioned as one of the places conquered by Nakula; the Aṣṭādhyāyī of Pāṇini; and the Divyāvadāna. The name Śairīṣaka may be derived from the siris tree, Albizia lebbeck, which is common in the area.
Sirsa HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Sirsa in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1844. Known strikes are in red. Its "HG 1" designation is the figure number assigned in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India.
A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, with images and provenance. On the strength of that count the mark is graded "1 example recorded" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for sirsa pre stamp covers, sirsa postal history or "Sirsa HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Sirsa marks.
Frequently asked
- What is the Sirsa HG 1 handstamp?
- Sirsa HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Sirsa in the North Western Provinces, British India, recorded in use around 1844. The "HG 1" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in red.
- How rare is Sirsa HG 1?
- Sirsa HG 1 has 1 example recorded in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, with images and provenance.
- What does a Sirsa pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Sirsa 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. A single surviving cover bearing this mark is recorded in the census, 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 Sirsa 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 (1844). 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: Sirsa HG 1, Sirsa HG1, Sirsa Giles 1, Sirsa handstamp, Sirsa pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Sirsa HG 1 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/n-w-provinces/sirsa/hg-1 (accessed 23 August 2026).
Updated: 23 Aug 2026