What is the Sobathoo MN 1 marking?

Sobathoo MN 1 is a pre-1854 manuscript postal marking of Sobathoo (modern Subathu) in the Punjab, British India, recorded in use around 1835. The "MN 1" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India.

How rare is Sobathoo MN 1?

Sobathoo MN 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 Sobathoo pre stamp cover with MN 1 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Sobathoo is a folded letter or envelope carried before India's first adhesive stamp of 1854, with postage shown entirely by manuscript rate marks like MN 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 Sobathoo MN 1 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1835). 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 Manuscript

Sobathoo MN 1

Manuscript

Type: Manuscript
Date Span: 1835
Rarity: 1 example recorded
Figure: MN1
Submitted by: Markand Dave FRPSL

← HG 6 All Sobathoo

Census

Census records

1 cover recorded

1 pre-1854 cover bearing the Sobathoo MN 1 manuscript marking is recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-2047

1835

1835 Sobathoo – Edinburgh entire via Calcutta & Cape route, with "Soobathoo/Post Paid" manuscript handstamp dated "14 February 1835" & rate "15as" (paid 15A comprising 12A inland to Calcutta for letter not exceeding 1 tolah & 3A outward sea postage). At Calcutta Giles SD9 "CALCUTTA/GPO/SHIP LETTER/13 DE 13/1834" transit applied, sent to Gravesend (UK) via Cape route & there "INDIA LETTER/GRAVESEND" transit applied, sent to Edinburgh via London & for that "D/10 AU 10/1835" London transit & "AUG/C 12 A/1835" Edinburgh delivery mark applied. "2/8" bearing postage comprising 4d ship letter postage + inland postage & ½d Scottish wheel tax collected from the recipient.

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About this mark

The Sobathoo MN 1 marking

Sobathoo is a hill station in Simla District, Punjab on a tableland at the end of the Simla range, overlooking the Ghambar River, and situated 30°59' N and 77° E. It was held as a military post from the close of the Gurkha War in 1816, where a small fort was built.

Sobathoo MN 1 is a pre-1854 manuscript postal marking of the post office at Sobathoo — the present-day Subathu — in the Punjab, British India, recorded in use around 1835. Its "MN 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 sobathoo pre stamp covers, sobathoo postal history or "Sobathoo MN1" material can compare MN 1 across every office or browse the rest of the Sobathoo marks.

Frequently asked

What is the Sobathoo MN 1 marking?: Sobathoo MN 1 is a pre-1854 manuscript postal marking of Sobathoo (modern Subathu) in the Punjab, British India, recorded in use around 1835. The "MN 1" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India.
How rare is Sobathoo MN 1?: Sobathoo MN 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 Sobathoo pre stamp cover with MN 1 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Sobathoo is a folded letter or envelope carried before India's first adhesive stamp of 1854, with postage shown entirely by manuscript rate marks like MN 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 Sobathoo MN 1 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1835). 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 Sobathoo

6 marks

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

View all Sobathoo 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: Sobathoo MN 1, Sobathoo MN1, Sobathoo Giles MN 1, Subathu postal history, Sobathoo handstamp, Sobathoo pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Sobathoo MN 1 — manuscript,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/punjab/sobathoo/mn-1 (accessed 19 August 2026).

Updated: 19 Aug 2026