Sindh · Pre-1854 Handstamp
Karatchee S3
- Colour & date
- Black1849–1851
- Rarity
- Common
- Category
- Ship Letter
- Note
- Kurrachee Ship Letter — 1849 Nov 13, Bearing (boxed)
- Catalogue
- 1989 Catalogue · p. 121
- Figure
- S3
- Submitted by
- D. Hammond Giles
Census
Census records
2 covers recorded2 pre-1854 covers bearing the Karatchee S3 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.
About this mark
The Karatchee S3 handstamp
Karatchee is the capital of Sind, situated 24°51'N and 6r4' E, at the extreme north-east of the Indus delta, 993 miles north of Bombay by land, or, in nautical terms, 483 miles. It came into British territory in 1843, and may be regarded almost as a creation of British rule.
Karatchee S3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Karatchee — the present-day Karachi — in the Sindh, British India, in recorded use from 1849 to 1851. Known strikes are in black. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "S3".
2 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 karatchee pre stamp covers, karatchee postal history or "Karatchee S3" material can compare S3 across every office or browse the rest of the Karatchee marks.
Kurrachee Ship Letter — 1849 Nov 13, Bearing (boxed)
Frequently asked
- What is the Karatchee S3 handstamp?
- Karatchee S3 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Karatchee (modern Karachi) in the Sindh, British India, in recorded use from 1849 to 1851. The "S3" 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 Karatchee S3?
- Karatchee S3 is graded "Common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 2 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
- What does a Karatchee pre stamp cover with S3 look like?
- A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Karatchee is a folded letter or envelope carried before India's first adhesive stamp of 1854, with postage shown entirely by hand-struck marks like S3. 2 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 Karatchee S3 cover?
- Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1849–1851). 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 Karatchee
10 marks10 other pre-1854 postal markings of Karatchee are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Karatchee HG 1handstampRed1841–1846
- Karatchee HG 2handstampRed1843–1845
- Karatchee HG 3handstampRed1846-48
- Karatchee HG 4handstampRed1846–1848
- Karatchee HG 5handstampBlack1850-56
- Karatchee HG 6handstampBlack1850–1856
- Karatchee HG 7handstampRed1851–1856
- Karatchee HG 8handstampRed1850–1853
- Karatchee S1handstampRed1848–1853
- Karatchee S2handstampBlack1849
Suggest a correction
Spotted a wrong date, colour or rarity? Propose a change — every suggestion is reviewed before it is applied.
Also searched as: Karatchee S3, Karatchee Giles S3, Karachi postal history, Karatchee handstamp, Karatchee pre stamp cover.
How to cite
“Karatchee S3 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/sindh/karatchee/s3 (accessed 10 August 2026).
Updated: 10 Aug 2026