What is the Lodianah HG 11 handstamp?

Lodianah HG 11 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Lodianah (modern Ludhiana) in the Punjab, British India, recorded in use around 1850. The "HG 11" 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 Lodianah HG 11?

Lodianah HG 11 is graded "Very scarce" 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 Lodianah pre stamp cover with HG 11 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Lodianah 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 11. 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 Lodianah HG 11 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.

Punjab · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Lodianah HG 11

Handstamp Ex-territorial British

Colour & date: Black1850
Rarity: Very scarce
Note: Newspaper or banghy post
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 125
Figure: 11
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 10 All Lodianah HG 12 →

Census

Census records

1 cover recorded

1 pre-1854 cover bearing the Lodianah HG 11 handstamp is recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-4152

1850

Rare Loodianah Bhangy posted in 1850 Small undated cover with LOODIANAH/Bearing/(2) Annas newspaper stamp (Giles 11 recorded from this example). Very few examples recorded.

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About this mark

The Lodianah HG 11 handstamp

Lodianah lies on the south bank of the Sutlej river, in the Punjab, situated 30°56' N and 75°52' E on the Grand Trunk Road, 1148 miles from Calcutta and 1215 from Bombay. In 1806 it was taken by Ranjit Singh, who gave it to his uncle, Raja Bhag Sing. A British cantonment was set up in 1809 west of the town, which up to 1838 was the outpost of the Sutlej frontier. The cantonment was abandoned in 1854. An ex-territorial Post Office was established by 1824, or earlier.

Lodianah HG 11 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Lodianah — the present-day Ludhiana — in the Punjab, 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 11".

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 "Very scarce" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for lodianah pre stamp covers, lodianah postal history or "Lodianah HG11" material can compare HG 11 across every office or browse the rest of the Lodianah marks.

Newspaper or banghy post

Frequently asked

What is the Lodianah HG 11 handstamp?: Lodianah HG 11 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Lodianah (modern Ludhiana) in the Punjab, British India, recorded in use around 1850. The "HG 11" 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 Lodianah HG 11?: Lodianah HG 11 is graded "Very scarce" 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 Lodianah pre stamp cover with HG 11 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Lodianah 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 11. 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 Lodianah HG 11 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.

Same office

Other recorded marks at Lodianah

12 marks

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

View all Lodianah marks and postal history →

Suggest a correction

Spotted a wrong date, colour or rarity? Propose a change — every suggestion is reviewed before it is applied.

Also searched as: Lodianah HG 11, Lodianah HG11, Lodianah Giles 11, Ludhiana postal history, Lodianah handstamp, Lodianah pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Lodianah HG 11 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/punjab/lodianah/hg-11 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026