Libya: British Occupation (1943-1951)
An illustrated key to Libyan revenues since 1943 can be found here
Chapter overview
- Cyrenaica (British)
- Tripolitania (British)
- Bill of Exchange
- Social Security
- Tripoli Municipal (British)
Cyrenaica (British)
Currency: 1000 mils = 100 piastres (abbreviated to pt or P.T.) = 1 Egyptian pound
C1 and C2
c1947. Inland Revenue key type of Eritrea surcharged “CYRENAICA P.T. 25” in bold sans-serif type, the original value deleted with four bars across the whole stamp.
a) No watermark
C1. 25pt on 4c ultramarine
b) Watermark multiple “OTA”
C2. 25pt on 4c pale blue
Note: earliest recorded example – 15th January 1947 (C2).
Erler gives the date of issue as 1946.
a) No watermark
C1. 25pt on 4c ultramarine
b) Watermark multiple “OTA”
C2. 25pt on 4c pale blue
Note: earliest recorded example – 15th January 1947 (C2).
Erler gives the date of issue as 1946.
CR137/141
1950. Postage stamps of Cyrenaica (Mujahid design) used fiscally. Perf 12½. No wmk. Printed (recess) by Waterlow.
CR137. 2m carmine
CR140. 5m grey-black
CR141. 8m orange
Note: for ease of reference, the numbering of this issue follows the Stanley Gibbons Part 1 (Commonwealth / British Empire) catalogue.
CR137. 2m carmine
CR140. 5m grey-black
CR141. 8m orange
Note: for ease of reference, the numbering of this issue follows the Stanley Gibbons Part 1 (Commonwealth / British Empire) catalogue.
Tripolitania (British)
Currency: 100 centesimi = 1 lira (plural lire). The Italian lira was replaced by the Military Administration Lira (MAL) shortly after power was handed over to the British.
Note: Erler designates #1-27 of the following issues as 'Libya', ie valid for use in Cyrenaica as well as Tripolitania. I regard them as Tripolitania issues since they are denominated in MAL while Cyrenaica seems to have used Egyptian currency. Cyrenaica documents from the relevant period might confirm this but I have not seen any.
King Victor Emmanuel revenues (large and small formats) overprinted or surcharged also. Watermark Single Crown (small format) or Two Crowns sideways (large formats), pointing to right as seen from the back of the stamp. Perf 14.
T1-2
c1946. Overprinted “B.M.A.” (= British Military Administration) and value in seriffed letters 2mm high.
a) On large format stamps
T1. 30l blue & pale rose (king facing left)
T2. 40l blue & pale green (king facing right)
b) On small format stamps
a) On large format stamps
T1. 30l blue & pale rose (king facing left)
T2. 40l blue & pale green (king facing right)
b) On small format stamps
T3-9
T3. 50c carmine
T4. 1l slate-grey
T5. 2l red-orange
T6. 4l olive-brown
T7. 10l reddish purple
T8. 30l blue
T9. 40l magenta
Notes: earliest recorded use – 18th May 1948 (T7), 30th May 1948 (T5), 21st September 1948 (T6), 18th November 1949 (T1). Latest recorded use – 29th January 1951 (T9).
Erler gives an issue date of 1945 for the stamps with seriffed overprint, and 1948 for the bold sans-serif (T11-18 and T21-27 below).
T4. 1l slate-grey
T5. 2l red-orange
T6. 4l olive-brown
T7. 10l reddish purple
T8. 30l blue
T9. 40l magenta
Notes: earliest recorded use – 18th May 1948 (T7), 30th May 1948 (T5), 21st September 1948 (T6), 18th November 1949 (T1). Latest recorded use – 29th January 1951 (T9).
Erler gives an issue date of 1945 for the stamps with seriffed overprint, and 1948 for the bold sans-serif (T11-18 and T21-27 below).
T3, 5, 7, 9 showing variety 'shaved letters'
The small format stamps can be found with the letters 'BMA' shaved at top. This has been recorded on the 50c, 2l, 10l and 40l and may exist on all values.
c1948. Small format stamps overprinted “B.M.A.” in bold sans-serif letters 2mm high, or also surcharged with new value in Military Administration Lire (M.A.L.) in red (60l) or black. (The figures of value appear before “M.A.L.” on all values.)
c1948. Small format stamps overprinted “B.M.A.” in bold sans-serif letters 2mm high, or also surcharged with new value in Military Administration Lire (M.A.L.) in red (60l) or black. (The figures of value appear before “M.A.L.” on all values.)
T11-18
T11. 50c carmine
T12. 1l slate-grey
T13. 2l red-orange
T14. 4l olive-brown
T15. 5l on 5c bistre
T16. 10l on 10c blue
T17. 20l on 20c purple
T18. 60l on 25c grey-black (red) (wmk inverted)
Notes: earliest recorded use – 21st September 1948 (T12), 1948 (T15), 23rd March 1949 (T17).
c1950. Small format stamps overprinted “B.Adm.T.” (= British Administration Tripolitania) in bold sans-serif letters 2mm high, or also surcharged with new value in “MAL.” (The figures of value appear after “MAL.” on the 5l and before “MAL.” on the 10l and 20l.)
T12. 1l slate-grey
T13. 2l red-orange
T14. 4l olive-brown
T15. 5l on 5c bistre
T16. 10l on 10c blue
T17. 20l on 20c purple
T18. 60l on 25c grey-black (red) (wmk inverted)
Notes: earliest recorded use – 21st September 1948 (T12), 1948 (T15), 23rd March 1949 (T17).
c1950. Small format stamps overprinted “B.Adm.T.” (= British Administration Tripolitania) in bold sans-serif letters 2mm high, or also surcharged with new value in “MAL.” (The figures of value appear after “MAL.” on the 5l and before “MAL.” on the 10l and 20l.)
T21-27
T24a (no stop after T) and normal (lower stamp)
T21. 50c carmine
T22. 1l slate-grey
T23. 2l red-orange
T24. 4l olive-brown
a. No stop after “T”
T25. 5l on 5c bistre
T26. 10l on 10c blue
T27. 20l on 20c purple
Notes: earliest recorded use - 29th January 1951 (T26). Latest recorded use – 8th October 1951 (T26). The change of overprint from “B.M.A.” to “B.Adm.T.” shows that this set was issued after the British Military Administration was replaced with a civil British administration in 1950.
c1951. Small format stamps overprinted “Tripolitania” in bold sans-serif letters 2mm high, or also surcharged with new value in “MAL.”. (The figures of value appear after “MAL.” on all values.)
T22. 1l slate-grey
T23. 2l red-orange
T24. 4l olive-brown
a. No stop after “T”
T25. 5l on 5c bistre
T26. 10l on 10c blue
T27. 20l on 20c purple
Notes: earliest recorded use - 29th January 1951 (T26). Latest recorded use – 8th October 1951 (T26). The change of overprint from “B.M.A.” to “B.Adm.T.” shows that this set was issued after the British Military Administration was replaced with a civil British administration in 1950.
c1951. Small format stamps overprinted “Tripolitania” in bold sans-serif letters 2mm high, or also surcharged with new value in “MAL.”. (The figures of value appear after “MAL.” on all values.)
T31-35 (image of T32 from Bussoli)
T31. 1l slate-grey
T32. 4l olive-brown
T33. 5l on 5c bistre
T34. 10l on 10c blue
T35. 20l on 20c purple
Notes: no dated examples of this issue have so far been recorded. Erler gives an issue date of 1946, but the fact that the new overprint does not refer to British administration may indicate that this set and the next were issued after Libya became independent in 1951. They are retained at this point in my listing because of their similarity to the preceding issues.
c1951. Postage stamps of Cyrenaica (1950 issue, currency in Egyptian millièmes) surcharged “Tripolitania REVENUE [value] MAL” in Arabic and in English bold sans-serif letters 2mm high. Surcharge in black (10l) or red.
T32. 4l olive-brown
T33. 5l on 5c bistre
T34. 10l on 10c blue
T35. 20l on 20c purple
Notes: no dated examples of this issue have so far been recorded. Erler gives an issue date of 1946, but the fact that the new overprint does not refer to British administration may indicate that this set and the next were issued after Libya became independent in 1951. They are retained at this point in my listing because of their similarity to the preceding issues.
c1951. Postage stamps of Cyrenaica (1950 issue, currency in Egyptian millièmes) surcharged “Tripolitania REVENUE [value] MAL” in Arabic and in English bold sans-serif letters 2mm high. Surcharge in black (10l) or red.
T41-44
T41. 1l on 1m brown
T42. 3l on 3m orange-yellow
T43. 5l on 5m grey-black
T44. 10l on 3m orange-yellow
Notes: no dated examples of this issue have so far been recorded.
Erler states that the overprint was in red on all four values, though the 10l on 3m with red overprint is not attested anywhere else.
T42. 3l on 3m orange-yellow
T43. 5l on 5m grey-black
T44. 10l on 3m orange-yellow
Notes: no dated examples of this issue have so far been recorded.
Erler states that the overprint was in red on all four values, though the 10l on 3m with red overprint is not attested anywhere else.
Note: stamps of the types shown here are listed by Erler as issues for Libya (left) and Tripoli municipal (right), both with an issue date of 1950, ie during the British administration. I have not seen any evidence to suggest that they were issued before Libya's independence in 1951, so they are listed under Kingdom regional issues.
Bill of Exchange
B1/12
c1946. Italian revenues inscribed Tassa di Bollo per Cambiali (= Bill of Exchange Stamp Duty) and overprinted A.O.I. (= Africa Orientale Italiana, Italian East Africa) now further overprinted B.M.A. (= British Military Administration) in bold sans-serif letters for use in Tripolitania.
B1. 20c deep brown
B2. 30c deep blue
B3. 50c green
B6. 5l on 5,60l lilac (AOI opt in red)
B7. 10l black
B8. 16l violet
B9. 30l brown-purple
B11. 50l brown
B12. 500l claret
Notes:
1. B6, B7, B9 and B11 have an additional overprint consisting of wavy diagonal lines across the corners of the stamp.
2. Erler additionally lists the 10c red, 1l pale violet, 4l violet and 30l red & light blue, but I have not seen these values.
B1. 20c deep brown
B2. 30c deep blue
B3. 50c green
B6. 5l on 5,60l lilac (AOI opt in red)
B7. 10l black
B8. 16l violet
B9. 30l brown-purple
B11. 50l brown
B12. 500l claret
Notes:
1. B6, B7, B9 and B11 have an additional overprint consisting of wavy diagonal lines across the corners of the stamp.
2. Erler additionally lists the 10c red, 1l pale violet, 4l violet and 30l red & light blue, but I have not seen these values.
Social Security
Erler lists (but does not illustrate) two stamps under Libya Insurance, describing them as follows:
1946. Insurance stamps. Overprinted INPS and new value in MAL.
36 MAL / 3.20 lire red
53 MAL / 5.05 lire orange
With the overprint INPS and a currency in Military Administration Lire, these stamps would almost certainly be Social Security issues for Tripolitania under British Occupation or from the early days after Independence. I have never seen them or any reference to them other than in Erler. If any reader can supply images of these stamps, I would be very grateful.
Tripoli Municipal (British)
c1945-50. Undenominated pre-war Municipal revenues (various types) surcharged in MAL (Military Administration Lire).
M1 (only available image)
a) Numeral type inscribed COMUNE DI TRIPOLI DIRITTI DI SEGRETARIA
M1. 3l on 50c
Note: this stamp is known only from the black and white illustration shown here. The colour and watermark cannot be confirmed.
b) Palm trees and mosque type inscribed MUNICIPIO DI TRIPOLI, no watermark, perf 11½
M2-4 (M4 from Erler, no better image available)
M2 and 3 showing the two different surcharges
M2. 2.50l green (“MAL 2.50”, surch in blue, 12½ x 1½ mm)
M3. 2.50l green (“MAL 2,50”, surch in black, 12 x 2 mm)
M4. 5l red (“5 M.A.L.”)
Notes: the colour and watermark of M4 cannot be confirmed since this stamp is known only from the illustration in Erler's book. Earliest recorded use – 12th July 1945 (M2), 21st September 1948 (M3).
M3. 2.50l green (“MAL 2,50”, surch in black, 12 x 2 mm)
M4. 5l red (“5 M.A.L.”)
Notes: the colour and watermark of M4 cannot be confirmed since this stamp is known only from the illustration in Erler's book. Earliest recorded use – 12th July 1945 (M2), 21st September 1948 (M3).
#5
c) Local musicians type inscribed DIRITTI MUNICIPALI, no watermark, perf 11½
M5. 5l red (“M.A.L. 5.00”)
Listings for post-Independence Libya can be found in the Middle East section
Note: an illustrated key to Libyan revenues since 1943 can be found here
