What is the Lodianah HG 8 handstamp?

Lodianah HG 8 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Lodianah (modern Ludhiana) in the Punjab, British India, recorded in use around 1844. The "HG 8" 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 Lodianah HG 8?

Lodianah HG 8 is graded "Common" 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 8 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 8. 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 8 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.

Lodianah HG 8 — pre-1854 Indian handstamp, 1844, Red

Punjab · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Lodianah HG 8

Handstamp Ex-territorial British

Colour & date: Red1844
Rarity: Common
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 125
Figure: 8
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

← HG 7 All Lodianah HG 9 →

Census

Census records

1 cover recorded

1 pre-1854 cover bearing the Lodianah HG 8 handstamp is recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-4153

6 July 1844

Officers letter written by Captain Stephen commanding at Artillery in Loodiana to James Cook of England with the concessional free rate designated to higher rank officials having "Loodiana/ 18/ Free" HG& handstamp along with scare GPO handstamp of Calcutta HG14 in black and India oval handstamp with 2D due canceled on the letter. Very few letters have survived related to Ludhiana military officers.

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About this mark

The Lodianah HG 8 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 8 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 1844. Known strikes are in red. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "HG 8".

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 "Common" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for lodianah pre stamp covers, lodianah postal history or "Lodianah HG8" material can compare HG 8 across every office or browse the rest of the Lodianah marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Lodianah HG 8 handstamp?: Lodianah HG 8 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Lodianah (modern Ludhiana) in the Punjab, British India, recorded in use around 1844. The "HG 8" 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 Lodianah HG 8?: Lodianah HG 8 is graded "Common" 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 8 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 8. 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 8 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.

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

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Also searched as: Lodianah HG 8, Lodianah HG8, Lodianah Giles 8, Ludhiana postal history, Lodianah handstamp, Lodianah pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Lodianah HG 8 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/punjab/lodianah/hg-8 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026