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)
- Stamp paper
Acknowledgments
Grateful thanks to Danilo Oldoni for sharing images of stamps from his collection, and to Carmel Axiaq for additional scans and information.
Cyrenaica (British)
Currency: 1000 mils = 100 piastres (abbreviated to pt or P.T.) = 1 Egyptian pound
C1 and C2
1947. 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. 25p on 4c ultramarine
b) Watermark multiple “OTA”
C2. 25p on 4c pale blue
Note: earliest recorded example – 15th January 1947 (C2). Erler gives the date of issue as 1946.
a) No watermark
C1. 25p on 4c ultramarine
b) Watermark multiple “OTA”
C2. 25p on 4c pale blue
Note: earliest recorded example – 15th January 1947 (C2). Erler gives the date of issue as 1946.
C11/13
c1950. Postage stamps of Cyrenaica (Mujahid design) overprinted Revenue in seriffed font.
C11. 50m ultramarine and purple-brown
C13. 200m violet and deep blue
Note: for similar stamps additionally overprinted Libya in capitals, see #1/4 of Libya (Kingdom federal issues).
C11. 50m ultramarine and purple-brown
C13. 200m violet and deep blue
Note: for similar stamps additionally overprinted Libya in capitals, see #1/4 of Libya (Kingdom federal issues).
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 shortly after power was handed over to the British.
Note: Erler designates T1/27 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) 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)
Recorded usage: November 1949 (T1).
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)
Recorded usage: November 1949 (T1).
b) On small format stamps
T3/10 (T8a image to be added)
T8a
T3. 50c carmine
T4. 1l slate-grey
T5. 2l red-orange
T6. 4l olive-brown
T7. 8l deep brown
T8. 10l reddish purple (perf 14)
a. Perf 11 x 14
T9. 30l blue
T10. 40l magenta
Notes:
1. 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).
2. T10 is known with inverted watermark.
3. 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.
4. Another variety of the overprint is thin letters, which appear not to have the heavy serifs at right. This is known on all values of the set and can be found se-tenant with normal.
5. Recorded usage – Jan 48 (T4, T6, T9), 18th May 1948 (T8), 30th May 1948 (T5), 18th November 1949 (T1). Latest recorded use – 29th January 1951 (T10).
T4. 1l slate-grey
T5. 2l red-orange
T6. 4l olive-brown
T7. 8l deep brown
T8. 10l reddish purple (perf 14)
a. Perf 11 x 14
T9. 30l blue
T10. 40l magenta
Notes:
1. 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).
2. T10 is known with inverted watermark.
3. 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.
4. Another variety of the overprint is thin letters, which appear not to have the heavy serifs at right. This is known on all values of the set and can be found se-tenant with normal.
5. Recorded usage – Jan 48 (T4, T6, T9), 18th May 1948 (T8), 30th May 1948 (T5), 18th November 1949 (T1). Latest recorded use – 29th January 1951 (T10).
T3, 5, 7, 9 showing variety 'shaved letters'
T11-18
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. 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)
Notes:
1. T18 is known with inverted watermark.
2. Recorded usage – 21st September 1948 (T12), 1948 (T15), March to November 1949.
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.)
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)
Notes:
1. T18 is known with inverted watermark.
2. Recorded usage – 21st September 1948 (T12), 1948 (T15), March to November 1949.
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
Recorded usage - September 1950 to 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
Recorded usage - September 1950 to 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.
1952. 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.
1952. 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
Recorded usage: November 1951 to April 1952.
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
Recorded usage: November 1951 to April 1952.
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. 10c red
B2. 20c deep brown
B3. 30c deep blue
B4. 50c green
B5. 1l pale violet
B7. 5l on 5,60l lilac (AOI opt in red)
B8. 10l black
B9. 16l violet
B10. 30l red and light blue
B11. 50l brown
B12. 500l claret
Notes:
1. B7, B8, B10 and B11 have an additional overprint consisting of wavy diagonal lines across the corners of the stamp.
2. Erler additionally lists the 4l violet but I have not seen this value.
B1. 10c red
B2. 20c deep brown
B3. 30c deep blue
B4. 50c green
B5. 1l pale violet
B7. 5l on 5,60l lilac (AOI opt in red)
B8. 10l black
B9. 16l violet
B10. 30l red and light blue
B11. 50l brown
B12. 500l claret
Notes:
1. B7, B8, B10 and B11 have an additional overprint consisting of wavy diagonal lines across the corners of the stamp.
2. Erler additionally lists the 4l violet but I have not seen this value.
Social Security
S1/4
1946. Social Security stamps of Italy (1935 issue with portrait of Carlo Forlanini, physician), overprinted INPS and new value in Military Administration Lire. 15 x 15 mm. Perf 12. Wmk letters.
S1. 36 MAL on 3.20l lake
S2. 53 MAL on 5.05l orange
1950?. 15 x 15 mm. Oil drilling. Perf 11 No watermark. Value in black.
a) Denominated in MAL (= Military Administration Lire)
S3. 53 MAL orange-red
b) Denominated in MILS
S4. 17m violet
S1. 36 MAL on 3.20l lake
S2. 53 MAL on 5.05l orange
1950?. 15 x 15 mm. Oil drilling. Perf 11 No watermark. Value in black.
a) Denominated in MAL (= Military Administration Lire)
S3. 53 MAL orange-red
b) Denominated in MILS
S4. 17m violet
Tripoli Municipal (British)
M1
|
M4/6
|
December 1951 (recorded usage). Pre-war municipal inscribed MUNICIPIO DI TRIPOLI DIRITTI DI SEGRETARIA, surcharged in Military Administration Lire with floral motif cancelling original figures of value.
M1. 3l on 50c blue
December 1945 (recorded usage). Local musicians. 19½ x 28 mm. Inscribed DIRITTI MUNICIPALI, surcharged in black, M.A.L. 2 mm tall with full stops. No watermark. Perf 11½.
M4. 2.50l pale green
M5. 5l red
M6. 25l deep blue
Notes:
1. The 5l value can be found in a range of shades from carmine to orange-red.
2. M4/5 are recorded used only in Sugh el Giumaa (Souq al Jum'aa), which is now a district of Tripoli but in the 1940s may have been regarded as a separate municipality.
M1. 3l on 50c blue
December 1945 (recorded usage). Local musicians. 19½ x 28 mm. Inscribed DIRITTI MUNICIPALI, surcharged in black, M.A.L. 2 mm tall with full stops. No watermark. Perf 11½.
M4. 2.50l pale green
M5. 5l red
M6. 25l deep blue
Notes:
1. The 5l value can be found in a range of shades from carmine to orange-red.
2. M4/5 are recorded used only in Sugh el Giumaa (Souq al Jum'aa), which is now a district of Tripoli but in the 1940s may have been regarded as a separate municipality.
M11/M16 including surcharge in blue and surcharge omitted varieties
The surcharge types compared: M11/16 on left, M21/26 on right
1945-52 (recorded usage). Zawiya Mosque, Tripoli. 25 x 35 mm. Inscribed MUNICIPIO DI TRIPOLI. No watermark. Perf 11½. Two different types of MAL surcharge.
a) Letter M with slanting legs, surcharged in black or blue, MAL 1½ mm tall without full stops (2.50l, 10l, 20l) or M.A.L. 2½ mm tall with stops (5l, 50l, 100l) (1945-51)
M11. 2.50l green
a. Surcharge in blue
b. Surcharge omitted
M12. 5l red
M13. 10l blue
a. Surcharge in blue
M14. 20l orange
a. Surcharge in blue
M15. 50l violet
M16. 100l red-brown
a) Letter M with slanting legs, surcharged in black or blue, MAL 1½ mm tall without full stops (2.50l, 10l, 20l) or M.A.L. 2½ mm tall with stops (5l, 50l, 100l) (1945-51)
M11. 2.50l green
a. Surcharge in blue
b. Surcharge omitted
M12. 5l red
M13. 10l blue
a. Surcharge in blue
M14. 20l orange
a. Surcharge in blue
M15. 50l violet
M16. 100l red-brown
M21/26
M21 (top) and M21a (bottom)
b) Letter M with straight legs, surcharged in black, M.A.L. 2 mm tall (2½ mm tall on 50l and 100l), with full stops on all values except 2.50l (1948-52)
M21. 2.50l green
a. MAL 2,50 with comma
M22. 5l red
M24. 20l orange
M25. 50l violet
M26. 100l red-brown
M21. 2.50l green
a. MAL 2,50 with comma
M22. 5l red
M24. 20l orange
M25. 50l violet
M26. 100l red-brown
Notes:
1. In both a) and b) types of surcharge, the 2.50l, 10l, 20l all have figures of value after MAL and zeroes after the decimal point (MAL 10.00 etc), while the 5l, 50l and 100l have figures of value before MAL and no decimal point or zeroes (5 M.A.L. etc).
2. M13a, M14a, M15 and M21a are all known as tête-bêche pairs or blocks as illustrated below. This suggests that at least some rows in the sheet were printed inverted relative to the others.
3. Recorded usage:
1. In both a) and b) types of surcharge, the 2.50l, 10l, 20l all have figures of value after MAL and zeroes after the decimal point (MAL 10.00 etc), while the 5l, 50l and 100l have figures of value before MAL and no decimal point or zeroes (5 M.A.L. etc).
2. M13a, M14a, M15 and M21a are all known as tête-bêche pairs or blocks as illustrated below. This suggests that at least some rows in the sheet were printed inverted relative to the others.
3. Recorded usage:
- M11 - 5/2/45 to 16/2/46
- M11a - 12/7/45
- M13 - 23/1/47
- M14 - 2/2/46 to 9/1/51
- M14a - 18/1/48
- M15 - 18/1/48 to 23/5/50
- M16 - 2/2/46 to 23/1/47
- M21 - 29/1/52 to 5/3/52
- M21a - 18/1/48 to 14/3/51
- M22 - 26/2/48 to 12/12/51
- M24 - 26/2/48 to 8/5/52
- M26 - 21/12/50 to 6/3/52
M13a and M15 in tête-bêche pairs
M31/33
December 1952 (recorded usage). Previous issue (letter M with straight legs) surcharged in new currency (mils) in black or red, with a thick bar cancelling previous figures of value.
M31. 6m on 20l orange
M32. 6m on 50l violet (surcharge in red)
M33. 6m on 100l red-brown
Note: the surcharge on M32 is larger than on the other two values.
M31. 6m on 20l orange
M32. 6m on 50l violet (surcharge in red)
M33. 6m on 100l red-brown
Note: the surcharge on M32 is larger than on the other two values.
Stamp paper
Z31, Z41/43 (stamp impressions)
Z42 shown as complete paper
1945-46 (recorded usage). Pre-war stamp paper showing Arms of Oea (ancient Roman colony), surcharged in M.A.L. (= Military Administration Lire) with bars cancelling original figures of value.
Z31. 10l on 3l black (red surcharge)
1946-51 (recorded usage). Similar type but coarser printing and denominated in MAL.
Z41. 10l blue
Z42. 15l red
Z43. 25l red-brown
Recorded usage:
Z31. 10l on 3l black (red surcharge)
1946-51 (recorded usage). Similar type but coarser printing and denominated in MAL.
Z41. 10l blue
Z42. 15l red
Z43. 25l red-brown
Recorded usage:
- Z31 - December 1945 to February 1946
- Z41 - January 1947 to November 1950
- Z42 - August 1951
- Z43 - October 1946
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
