What is the Gujranwala HG 1 handstamp?

Gujranwala HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Gujranwala in the Punjab, British India, in recorded use from 1843 to 1852. The "HG 1" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes occur in black and blue.

How rare is Gujranwala HG 1?

Gujranwala 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. 9 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.

What does a Gujranwala pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Gujranwala 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. 9 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 Gujranwala 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 (1843–1852). 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.

Gujranwala HG 1 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1843–1852, Black

Punjab · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Gujranwala HG 1

Handstamp All India common handstamp

Colours & dates: Black1843–1852
Blue1843–1852
Rarity: Common
Category: Bearing
Note: Boxed "GUJRANWALA / Bearing 2 chos" — Black June–July 1852, Blue-black May 1852
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue
Figure: 1
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

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Census

Census records

9 covers recorded

9 pre-1854 covers bearing the Gujranwala HG 1 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-1922

1843

Pre-stamp to 1860s postal history selection of covers and cards (21), including undated Sit Charles Napier cover front to Sukkur (rebacked) bearing "karatchee/free" oval h.s., 1843 Nagpore to London redirected to Crookham (Hampshire) with 1d. red cancelled numeral "2" in maltese cross, 1858 Allahabad Cantonment to London Indian Mutiny cover franked 10a. routed via Calcutta (Bombay crossed out) and Marseilles with note in flap "Bombay steamer in - telegraph out of order", 1859 "per overland via marseilles" envelope franked 6a. to Cardiff, 1866 Meeanmeer to Cardiff cover franked 6a8p., 1879 Second Anglo-Afghan War 8p. soldier's letter with contents describing the 10th Royal Hussars drowning incident in the Kabul River near Jalalabad leaving 47 men dead, 1880 ¼a stationary card uprated 2a. to London to philatelist F.A. Philbrick noting "The Rajpeepla stamps are already obsolete" and "All the old square Bhopal have been destroyed", 1894 9p. soldier's letter of the 3rd Battation Rifle Brigade Peshawar, various North West Frontier F.P.O.s, including F.P.O. 6 squared circle on 1897 cover to Surrey with R.P.S. cert (1983) and F.P.O. 33 on cover to Bombay with R.P.S. cert (1983). Mixed condition.

COV-2886

1852

1852 Entire, was sent from Gujranwala to Umritsur via Lahore. At first the postal stuff applied Giles 2 Gujranwala Service Hand Stamp in Red and soon they recognized the mistake and cut of the hand stamp and applied Gujranwala Bearing hand stamp with 2a. tariff. The cover transited through Lahore and there it received Giles 7 Lahor P .O. post mark. Superb example of Gujranwala Service and Gujranwala Bearing hand stamp on same cover. It’s a very scarce postal history pre stamp cover. Great opportunity for the serious collectors.

COV-3752

28 May 1852

India 1852 Folded Letter from Gujranwala (Giles Type 1) to Simla with Handstruck Postage Markings, Featuring 5as Bearing and Giles Type 1 Blue Backstamp, Via Lahore Transit

COV-34

3 June 1852

PRESTAMP & STAMPLESS POSTAL HISTORY - BALANCE OF STAMPLESS MAIL - INTERNAL MAIL WITH VARIED OVAL "PAID"/BOXED "Bearing" TYPES; 1822-71 covers inc. 1822/35 quartet with mainly fine oval "POST PAID" types of Dinapore (interesting EL ref. march, elephants, etc. ex "Camp Puckra"), Calcutta (2 sizes) & Madras (red), plus group of 1842-71 covers with boxed "Bearing" types of Bombay, (2 sizes), "GUJRANWALA" (3 June 1852 in blue - only recorded in this colour by H Giles for May 1852), 1840 EL ex Calcutta to US Ship with oval "KEDGEREE/POST OFFICE" arrival, etc. (13 covers)

COV-1543

16 June 1852

1852 GUJRANWALA Bearing Giles 1 (recorded in black between Jun-Jul 1852 only) on folded letter from the Clark correspondence written by John Clarke

COV-2027

10 July 1852

1852 (10 Jul) Entire from Gujranwala (Giles 1 slide bearing) and LAHOR / P.O to Simla (2-line Giles 8) Clarke correspondence.

COV-614

25 July 1852

1852 (July 25): Entire letter to Simla (Clarke correspondence) endorsed 'Bg.' (Bearing) on front with fine strike of oval LAHOR / P.O. handstamp in black (Hammond Giles fig. 7), reverse with fine strike of framed GUJURANWALA despatch (July 25) 'Bearing' (5 annas) datestamp in black and 'Simla' arrival (July 29) in red.

COV-3724

22 August 1852

India 1852 Simla–Gujranwala Bearing Wrapper to Mrs Clarke with LAHORE P.O. Oval, GUJRANWALA Aug 22 Boxed, SIMLA Aug 27 Red Rectangular, Giles Types 1, 7 & 8, Exceptional Military Correspondence

COV-1015

1 November 1852

India, Gujranwala, 1852, "GUJRANWALA/NOV. 1 1852/Bearing" Framed Datestamp (Giles 1). Clearly struck in Blackish Blue ink with manuscript "2as" rate added on back of folded letter to Captain Marshall in Umritsar, "LAHOR/P.O." oval handstamp (Giles 7), small edge tear at top, Very Fine and scarce

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About this mark

The Gujranwala HG 1 handstamp

Gujranwala is the fifth-largest city of Pakistan, in the province of Punjab, and the headquarters of its district and division.

Gujranwala HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Gujranwala in the Punjab, British India, in recorded use from 1843 to 1852. Known strikes occur in black and blue. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 1".

9 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 gujranwala pre stamp covers, gujranwala postal history or "Gujranwala HG1" material can compare HG 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Gujranwala marks.

Boxed "GUJRANWALA / Bearing 2 chos" — Black June–July 1852, Blue-black May 1852

Frequently asked

What is the Gujranwala HG 1 handstamp?: Gujranwala HG 1 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Gujranwala in the Punjab, British India, in recorded use from 1843 to 1852. The "HG 1" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes occur in black and blue.
How rare is Gujranwala HG 1?: Gujranwala 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. 9 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does a Gujranwala pre stamp cover with HG 1 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Gujranwala 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. 9 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 Gujranwala 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 (1843–1852). 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 Gujranwala

3 marks

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

View all Gujranwala marks and postal history →

Suggest a correction

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Also searched as: Gujranwala HG 1, Gujranwala HG1, Gujranwala Giles 1, Gujranwala handstamp, Gujranwala pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Gujranwala HG 1 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/punjab/gujranwala/hg-1 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026