Libya: Kingdom regional issues (1951-1969)
An illustrated key to Libyan revenues since 1943 can be found here
Chapter overview
The revenue stamps of Libya since independence are difficult to get to grips with, for a number of reasons. Most significant among these is the fact that the inscriptions on the stamps often give little clue as to the purpose for which they were issued. Also different sets sometimes seem to have been used concurrently, making it hard to determine with certainty in what sequence they were issued.
The sequence of issues in the Libya section of this website is therefore subject to revision as more information becomes available.
Chapter overview
- Tripolitania Mosque and palm tree (catalogue numbers prefixed T)
- Tripoli municipal (catalogue numbers prefixed M)
- Cyrenaica (catalogue numbers prefixed C)
- Cyrenaica stamp paper (catalogue numbers prefixed P)
- Fezzan (catalogue numbers prefixed F)
The revenue stamps of Libya since independence are difficult to get to grips with, for a number of reasons. Most significant among these is the fact that the inscriptions on the stamps often give little clue as to the purpose for which they were issued. Also different sets sometimes seem to have been used concurrently, making it hard to determine with certainty in what sequence they were issued.
The sequence of issues in the Libya section of this website is therefore subject to revision as more information becomes available.
Tripolitania Mosque and palm tree
T51/59
1951? Mosque and Palm Tree type inscribed REVENUE in English and Tax Department of West Tripoli at foot in Arabic. 24½ x 30 mm. Perf 11½. No watermark. Currency in MAL (Military Administration Lire). Figures of value in black.
T51. 1 MAL indigo
T52. 3 MAL brown
T55. 8 MAL bright purple
T56. 10 MAL carmine-lake
T58. 25 MAL yellow-green
T59. 30 MAL greyish violet
Notes: the Military Administration Lira was in use for only a few months after Libyan independence, from 24 December 1951 until early in 1952. This issue therefore probably saw quite brief usage.
In addition to the values listed above, Erler has seven others which I have never seen: 4, 5, 12, 40, 60, 100, 200 MAL. Numbers have been reserved in this listing for future additions.
T51. 1 MAL indigo
T52. 3 MAL brown
T55. 8 MAL bright purple
T56. 10 MAL carmine-lake
T58. 25 MAL yellow-green
T59. 30 MAL greyish violet
Notes: the Military Administration Lira was in use for only a few months after Libyan independence, from 24 December 1951 until early in 1952. This issue therefore probably saw quite brief usage.
In addition to the values listed above, Erler has seven others which I have never seen: 4, 5, 12, 40, 60, 100, 200 MAL. Numbers have been reserved in this listing for future additions.
T71/84 (T84 image from Barefoot)
1952 (earliest recorded usage). As previous issue but currency in MILS. Figures of value in black as before.
T72a
T71. 1m grey
T72. 2m blue
a. Figure of value omitted at left
T73. 5m brown
T74. 10m red-orange
T75. 15m bright purple
T76. 20m carmine-lake
T77. 25m orange-yellow
T78. 30m deep chocolate
T79. 40m green
T80. 50m blue-green
T81. 100m indigo
T82. 250m deep violet
T83. 500m blue
T84. 1000m carmine
Erler records two different shades each of the 5m, 10m, 40m and 100m.
T72. 2m blue
a. Figure of value omitted at left
T73. 5m brown
T74. 10m red-orange
T75. 15m bright purple
T76. 20m carmine-lake
T77. 25m orange-yellow
T78. 30m deep chocolate
T79. 40m green
T80. 50m blue-green
T81. 100m indigo
T82. 250m deep violet
T83. 500m blue
T84. 1000m carmine
Erler records two different shades each of the 5m, 10m, 40m and 100m.
T91/104
1954 (earliest recorded usage). As previous issue but figures of value in same colour as rest of design. MILS in capitals on all values except 1000m (inscribed 1000 Mils). No watermark. Perf 11½.
T91. 1m grey
T92. 2m blue
T93. 5m deep brown
T94. 10m red-orange
T95. 15m claret
T96. 20m red
T97. 30m deep chocolate
T98. 40m yellow-green
T99. 50m blue-green
T100. 100m indigo
T104. 1000m carmine
Erler additionally lists a 25m from this series, though I have only seen this perf 13½ (see T117 below). Barefoot lists a 250m violet and 500m blue, but I have not seen either of these. Erler also records two different shades each of the 1m, 5m and 15m.
For similar stamps but without REVENUE in English, and with a different Arabic inscription at foot, see Kingdom federal issues #61ff.
T91. 1m grey
T92. 2m blue
T93. 5m deep brown
T94. 10m red-orange
T95. 15m claret
T96. 20m red
T97. 30m deep chocolate
T98. 40m yellow-green
T99. 50m blue-green
T100. 100m indigo
T104. 1000m carmine
Erler additionally lists a 25m from this series, though I have only seen this perf 13½ (see T117 below). Barefoot lists a 250m violet and 500m blue, but I have not seen either of these. Erler also records two different shades each of the 1m, 5m and 15m.
For similar stamps but without REVENUE in English, and with a different Arabic inscription at foot, see Kingdom federal issues #61ff.
T111/121 including T112a
1959 (earliest recorded usage). As previous issue but rough perf 13½.
T111. 1m grey
T112. 2m blue
a. ultramarine
T113. 5m orange-brown
T114. 10m orange
T115. 15m bright purple
T116. 20m carmine-lake
T117. 25m yellow
T118. 30m brown
T119. 40m yellow-green
T120. 50m blue-green
T121. 100m grey-blue
T111. 1m grey
T112. 2m blue
a. ultramarine
T113. 5m orange-brown
T114. 10m orange
T115. 15m bright purple
T116. 20m carmine-lake
T117. 25m yellow
T118. 30m brown
T119. 40m yellow-green
T120. 50m blue-green
T121. 100m grey-blue
Tripoli municipal
M11/12 and M14/15 (M14 image from Barefoot)
1954-61 (recorded usage). Assai al-Hamra (Tripoli Castle). Inscribed MUNICPAL REVENUE in English and Municipal Revenue West Tripoli at top in Arabic. Perf 11½. No watermark. Figures of value in black.
a) Small figures of value at left (earliest recorded usage 1954)
M11. 10m red-orange
M12. 50m bright purple
b) Large figures of value at left (earliest recorded usage 1961)
M14. 50m bright purple
M15. 100m lake
a) Small figures of value at left (earliest recorded usage 1954)
M11. 10m red-orange
M12. 50m bright purple
b) Large figures of value at left (earliest recorded usage 1961)
M14. 50m bright purple
M15. 100m lake
M16
1963 (earliest recorded usage). As previous issue but figures of value in same colour as rest of design.
M16. 50m bright purple
Earliest recorded usage of this issue: M16 used in 1963
Cyrenaica
C13/20
Arabic overprint (enlarged)
c1952. 1952 issue of Tripolitania overprinted Burqah (=Cyrenaica) diagonally in Arabic.
C13. 5m brown
C14. 10m orange
C20. 50m blue-green
Barefoot does not list these stamps, but he does list the following thirteen stamps with this overprint but denominated in MAL, none of which I have seen: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 25, 30, 40, 60, 100, 200 MAL.
C13. 5m brown
C14. 10m orange
C20. 50m blue-green
Barefoot does not list these stamps, but he does list the following thirteen stamps with this overprint but denominated in MAL, none of which I have seen: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 25, 30, 40, 60, 100, 200 MAL.
Note: the dates of issue for the next two sets are derived from the material in the Davies collection of Libya Revenues ex the Bradbury Wilkinson archive, which is housed in the British Library. Dates and requisition numbers of individual printings are footnoted below each set listing, though print quantities are not known at present since the Davies material does not record them.
Stamps which are known from the Davies collection but have not been seen as issued stamps are listed in square brackets.
C42/47
1955-57. New Mosque and Palm Tree type inscribed Government of Cyrenaica at top and Department of Revenues at foot in Arabic. 27 x 32 mm. Perf 11½. No watermark. Printed (recess) by Bradbury Wilkinson.
[C41. 1m green]
C42. 2m violet
C43. 5m blue
C44. 10m orange
C45. 20m grey-black
C46. 50m brown
C47. 100m purple
[C48. 250m deep green]
[C49. 500m carmine-lake]
Individual printings:
Req 0/101807 (24 May 1955): 1m, 2m, 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req 0/106449 (22 Feb 1956): 1m, 2m, 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req 0/107102 (4 May 1956): 2m, 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m
Req 0/112038 (11 Mar 1957): 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m
[C41. 1m green]
C42. 2m violet
C43. 5m blue
C44. 10m orange
C45. 20m grey-black
C46. 50m brown
C47. 100m purple
[C48. 250m deep green]
[C49. 500m carmine-lake]
Individual printings:
Req 0/101807 (24 May 1955): 1m, 2m, 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req 0/106449 (22 Feb 1956): 1m, 2m, 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req 0/107102 (4 May 1956): 2m, 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m
Req 0/112038 (11 Mar 1957): 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m
C53/57
1955-63. Similar to previous issue but featuring an office building (as yet unidentified) in central vignette. Inscribed Government of Cyrenaica at top and Department of Revenues at foot in Arabic. Perf 11½. No watermark. Printed (recess) by Bradbury Wilkinson.
[C51. 1m green]
[C52. 2m violet]
C53. 5m blue
C54. 10m orange
C55. 20m grey-black
C56. 50m brown
C57. 100m purple
[C58. 250m deep green]
[C59. 500m carmine-lake]
For similar type but with altered Arabic inscriptions, see Kingdom federal issues #81ff.
Individual printings:
Req 0/101807 (24 May 1955): 1m, 2m, 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req 0/106449 (22 Feb 1956): 1m, 2m, 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req 0/107102 (4 May 1956): 1m, 2m, 5m , 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req 0/117873 (10 Apr 1958): 10m, 20m
Req 0/123027 (20 Feb 1959): 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m
Req 0/128556 (8 Feb 1960): 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req 0/131693 (13 Oct 1960): 5m, 10m, 20m, 100m
Req 0/133224 (6 Jun 1961): 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m
Req 0/135223 (9 Mar 1962): 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 500m
Req 0/137037 (17 Dec 1962): 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
The inscriptions on this and the previous issue are identical, so there is nothing to suggest that they served different revenue purposes. It is not clear why they were brought into use simultaneously, nor why the first set was not reprinted after 1957 while the second continued to be reprinted until the end of 1962.
[C51. 1m green]
[C52. 2m violet]
C53. 5m blue
C54. 10m orange
C55. 20m grey-black
C56. 50m brown
C57. 100m purple
[C58. 250m deep green]
[C59. 500m carmine-lake]
For similar type but with altered Arabic inscriptions, see Kingdom federal issues #81ff.
Individual printings:
Req 0/101807 (24 May 1955): 1m, 2m, 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req 0/106449 (22 Feb 1956): 1m, 2m, 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req 0/107102 (4 May 1956): 1m, 2m, 5m , 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req 0/117873 (10 Apr 1958): 10m, 20m
Req 0/123027 (20 Feb 1959): 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m
Req 0/128556 (8 Feb 1960): 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req 0/131693 (13 Oct 1960): 5m, 10m, 20m, 100m
Req 0/133224 (6 Jun 1961): 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m
Req 0/135223 (9 Mar 1962): 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 500m
Req 0/137037 (17 Dec 1962): 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
The inscriptions on this and the previous issue are identical, so there is nothing to suggest that they served different revenue purposes. It is not clear why they were brought into use simultaneously, nor why the first set was not reprinted after 1957 while the second continued to be reprinted until the end of 1962.
Cyrenaica stamp paper
c1955. New Mosque and Palm Tree type similar to C41 etc but printed directly onto lined paper for documentary use. Inscribed Government of Cyrenaica at top and Department of Revenues at foot in Arabic. 27 x 32 mm. Presumed printed by Bradbury Wilkinson.
P1 and P2
P1. 20m grey-black
P2. 50m brown
The illustration below shows the top portion of a complete paper bearing an impression of P2.
Fezzan
F1/2 (F2 image from Duston)
1950s? Desert scene with camel rider, 38½ x 18½ mm. Inscribed ADM. OF FEZZAN. Perf 11½. No watermark.
F1. 1m green
F2. 5m blue
Note: Duston also lists a 10m red and 50m lilac-brown, but I have not seen these.
F1. 1m green
F2. 5m blue
Note: Duston also lists a 10m red and 50m lilac-brown, but I have not seen these.
F11 (image from Duston)
1950s? Inscribed FEZZAN Impot du Timbre.
F11. 100m dark blue on light blue
F11. 100m dark blue on light blue
Note: an illustrated key to Libyan revenues since 1943 can be found here
