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Hand Struck Stamps
Kangra HG 4 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1852, Black

Punjab · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Kangra HG 4

Handstamp
Colour & date
Black1852
Rarity
Rare
Figure
4
Submitted by
Santosh MS
← HG 3All Kangra

Census

Census records

1 cover recorded

1 pre-1854 cover bearing the Kangra HG 4 handstamp is recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-2473 pre-stamp cover
COV-2473

1 July 1852

1852 Kangra – Loodiana inland cover, with unrecorded "Bearing/1 JULY 1852/KANGRA" hand stamp, rate "½" (bearing ½A for a letter under ¼ tolah, not exceeding 100 miles) applied in manuscript. At Loodiana, Giles 12 (Sup. 93) "LOODIANA/JUL 5 1852" delivery mark applied.

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About this mark

The Kangra HG 4 handstamp

Kangra HG 4 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Kangra in the Punjab, British India, recorded in use around 1852. Known strikes are in black. Its "HG 4" 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 "Rare" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for kangra pre-stamp covers, kangra postal history or "Kangra HG4" material can compare HG 4 across every office or browse the rest of the Kangra marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Kangra HG 4 handstamp?
Kangra HG 4 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Kangra in the Punjab, British India, recorded in use around 1852. The "HG 4" 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 Kangra HG 4?
Kangra HG 4 is graded "Rare" 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 Kangra pre-stamp cover with HG 4 look like?
A pre-stamp (pre-philatelic) cover from Kangra 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 4. 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 Kangra HG 4 cover?
Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (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.

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Also searched as: Kangra HG 4, Kangra HG4, Kangra Giles 4, Kangra handstamp, Kangra pre-stamp cover.

How to cite

“Kangra HG 4 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/punjab/kangra/hg-4 (accessed 10 July 2026).

Updated: 10 Jul 2026