Revenue Reverend
  • Welcome
    • Indian Entertainments and Passenger Tax
  • Alphabetical list of territories
  • Africa (East)
    • British East Africa
    • East Africa & Uganda / KUT
    • Kenya
    • Somaliland Protectorate
    • Tanganyika / Tanzania
    • Uganda
    • Zanzibar
  • Africa (Southern)
    • Lesotho
    • Northern Rhodesia / Zambia
    • South Africa (Union / Republic)
    • South Africa - Entertainments (Cape etc)
    • South Africa - Entertainments (Natal)
    • South West Africa / Namibia
    • Zululand
  • Asia
    • Brunei
    • Burma / Myanmar
    • Burma / Myanmar stamp paper
    • Labuan
    • Malaya (FMS)
    • Malaya (Japanese and Thai Occupation)
    • Maldive Islands
    • Mauritius
    • Mauritius supplementary information
    • North Borneo / Sabah
    • Seychelles
    • Seychelles supplementary information
  • Europe
    • Gibraltar
    • GB and Ireland Excise
    • Malta
  • Italian Colonies and former Colonies
    • Italian East Africa / Italian Colonies (General issues)
    • Eritrea
    • Somalia (British Occupation)
    • Somalia (ITT and Independent)
    • Libya (British Occupation)
  • Middle East
    • Abu Dhabi
    • Aden
    • Bahrain
    • Dubai
    • Euro-Arab Chambers of Commerce
    • Kuwait
    • Libya (Kingdom regional issues)
    • Libya (Kingdom federal issues)
    • Libya (Republic and People's Republic)
    • Oman
    • Palestine
    • Qatar
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Syria
    • Syria (Syndicates and Charities)
    • Syria (Key)
    • Trucial States
    • United Arab Emirates
    • Yemen (Northern / Kingdom / YAR)
    • Yemen (Southern / PDR)
  • Pacific Islands
    • British Solomon Islands
    • Fiji
  • West Indies
    • Antigua
    • Bahamas
    • Barbados
    • British Guiana / Guyana
    • British Honduras / Belize
    • British Virgin Islands
    • Cayman Islands
    • Dominica
    • Grenada
    • Jamaica
    • Jamaica supplementary information
    • Leeward Islands
    • Montserrat
    • St Kitts-Nevis
    • St Lucia
    • St Vincent
    • Trinidad and Tobago
    • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Couldn't help noticing...
  • Contact me
Libya (Italian / British)
Chapter overview
  • Bill of Exchange / Cambiali (catalogue numbers prefixed B)
  • Land fees / Diritti fondiarii (catalogue numbers prefixed L)
  • Matches / Fiammiferi (catalogue numbers prefixed F)
  • Passport / Passaporto (catalogue numbers prefixed P)
  • Revenue / Marca da Bollo (catalogue numbers prefixed R)
  • ​Social Security / INFPS (catalogue numbers prefixed S)
  • Weights and Measures / Pesi e Mesuri (catalogue numbers prefixed W)
  • Municipal (catalogue numbers prefixed M)
  • Stamp paper (catalogue numbers prefixed Z)

Eritrea Inland Revenue stamps overprinted Cyrenaica are listed under Passport.

Later issues for Libya including all revenue stamps denominated in milliemes, mils, pounds, dinars and dirhams are in the listing for Libya (Independent).


Acknowledgments
  • Louis S Alfano, Municipal Stamps of the Italian Colonies (privately published, 1983)
  • Mohamed Ali Siala, 'Libya: duty/revenue stamps since 1880', London Philatelist, vol 105 (October 1996), pp271-274
  • F Balzarelli and P de Magistris (eds), Marche da Bollo Catalogazione e quotazione: Antichi stati, Regno e Repubblica Italiana, Trieste, Fiume, Colonie e Possedimenti italiani, Occupazioni straniere delle Colonie 2016/18 (Unificato, 2016)
  • J Barefoot Ltd, British Commonwealth Revenues (10th Ed, privately published, 2019)
  • J Barefoot Ltd, Italy Revenues (privately published, 2013)
  • Cristiano Bussoli, online catalogue at http://xoomer.virgilio.it/cbussoli/libia.html (retrieved 3rd September 2009)
  • Michele Caso & Sergio Luconi, 'Occupazione Britannica delle Colonie Italiane', Fiscali, #3 (March 1987), pp34-36 and #5 (September 1987), pp55-60
  • Michele Caso & Sergio Luconi, 'Marche da bollo Occupazione Britannica Colonie Italiane: Seconda Edizione', Fiscali (Estratto), (c1990), pp2-12)
  • Gianni Cavazzoni, 'Catalogo Marche da Bollo delle Colonie Italiane in Africa', Fiscali, #16 (1990), pp1-16 and #17 (1991), pp17-32
  • P de Magistris, Marche da bollo 2016-2018 (Unificato catalogue)​
  • Martin Erler, British Occupation of Italian Colonies WWII Revenue Stamps (ORA-Verlag, 1980)
  • F Marchetto, Marche da bollo d'Italia (1863-1957) e delle colonie italiane d'Africa (1911-1943) (Vaccari, 2004)

Grateful thanks to Danilo Oldoni for sharing images of stamps from his collection, and to Carmel Axiaq and Joe Ross for additional scans and information.  Thanks also to my father-in-law David for help with Arabic translation.

​
Currency
  • (1913-19xx) 100 centisimi = 1 lira
  • (19xx-19xx) 100 cents = 1 Military Administration lira (MAL)

Bill of Exchange / Cambiali
Picture
B1/16 and B22/34
c​1910s.  Bill of Exchange stamps of Italy (1915, 1922, 1924 and 1926 issues) overprinted for use in Libya.  The 3l and 5l values are surcharged and several values have wavy lines in the corners as indicated in the listing.

a) Overprinted LIBIA
    B1. 10c red
    B4. 30c deep blue
    B6. 1l brown-purple
    B7. 2l carmine
    B8. 3l on 3l20c violet (wavy lines in corners)
    B12. 5l on 5l60c violet (wavy lines in corners)
    B13. 10l slate and pale blue
    B14. 16l violet and pale rose
    B15. 100l greenish black and pale rose
    B16. 200l orange-red and pale yellow

b) Overprinted TRIPOLITANIA
    B22. 20c ultramarine
    B23. 24c brown
    B25. 80c blue-green
    B29. 3l20c violet (wavy lines in corners)
    B30. 4l pale violet (wavy lines in corners)
    B31. 4l80c grey (wavy lines in corners)
    B34. 16l violet and pale rose (wavy lines in corners)

Notes:
1. Barefoot additionally lists the 60c, 1l60c and 8l values overprinted Tripolitania.  His illustrations show this overprint in mixed case, though I am not sure whether his images are digital productions or photographs of actual stamps.  Bussoli also illustrates stamps with a mixed-case overprint but in his case these have obviously been produced digitally.
2. Similar stamps but overprinted A.O.I. were used in Italian East Africa.  These were later overprinted B.M.A and used in Libya (see below).
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.

Land fees / Diritti fondiarii
Picture
L1/4
1920s.  General revenue issues of 1914-22 and 1923 overprinted Diritti fondiari(i) in seriffed mixed case.

    L1. 10c red-orange (1921)
    L2. 25c slate-grey (1922)
    L3. 50c magenta (undated)
    L4. 2l green (1922)

Notes:
1. Barefoot additionally lists two different versions of the 1l value (dated 1920 on 1917 and 1920 on 1919) but I have not seen these.
2. The second word of the overprint is spelt fondiarii on L1 and L4, and fondiari on L2/3.

Matches / Fiammiferi
1917 (according to Bussoli).  x mm.  Eagle with Royal Arms of Savoy.  Inscribed Monopolio Fiammiferi (= Matches monopoly).  Perf x.  Wmk x.

    F1. 7½c rose

Note: Bussoli additionally lists 15c and 20c values but I have not seen these.

Passport / Passaporto
Picture
P1/4
​1920s-30s.  Passport stamps of Italy (1920 Vidimazione and 1932-37 Atti Esteri issues) overprinted LIBIA in letters x mm tall.

P1. 2l orange-brown
P2. 10l grey-green
P3. 20l deep brown
P4. 100l deep green
Picture
P12 (P11 image to be added)
c1930s.  New special type for Libya.  x mm.  Libyan warrior riding under Royal Arms of Savoy.  Inscribed Passaporto Libia.  Perf x.  Wmk Crown.
​
P11. 1l brown
P12. 5l mauve

Note: Barefoot additionally lists the 5l value surcharged 6l but I have not seen this.

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.

Revenue / Marca da Bollo
Picture
R1/2 and R11/19
​1913-14.  General-duty revenue stamps of Italy (1868, 1905, 1906, 1909 and 1911 issues) overprinted for use in Libya.  The 1l, 2l and 3l values have wavy lines in the corners.

a) Overprinted LIBIA - 1913 in letters x mm high
    R1. 5c lilac
    R2. 10c lilac

b) Overprinted LIBIA - 1913 in letters x mm high
    R11. 1c blue
    R12. 2c green
    R13. 5c lilac
    R14. 10c blue
    R15. 25c brown
    R16. 50c dull purple
    R17. 1l brown and dull purple
    R18. 2l blue and dull purple
    R19. 3l slate-green and dull purple
Picture
R21/29
c) Overprinted LIBIA - 1914 in letters x mm high
    R21. 1c blue
    R22. 2c green
    R23. 5c lilac
    R24. 10c blue
    R25. 25c brown
    R26. 50c dull purple
    R27. 1l brown and dull purple
    R28. 2l blue and dull purple
    R29. 3l slate-green and dull purple

Note: both the 50c values (R16 and R26) are known with forged overprints as illustrated here.  The font used for the forgeries is noticeably narrower than the genuine overprint.
Picture
R16 plus forgery, R26 plus forgery
Picture
R41/49
​1914-22.  x mm.  New revenue key type for Italian Colonies showing portrait of King Victor Emmanuel looking towards right of stamp.  Inscribed Colonie Italiane in both Italian and Arabic, with year of validity shown in tablets at foot.  Perf x.  Wmk Two Crowns (sideways).  Note: for stamps showing one set of dates overprinted over another, see R141ff.

a) Dated ANNO 1914
    R41. 1c orange-brown
    R42. 2c bright blue
    R43. 5c mauve
    R44. 10c red-orange
    R45. 25c slate-grey
    R46. 50c magenta
    R47. 1l brown
    R48. 2l green
    R49. 3l olive
Picture
R53/59 (illustration reduced)
b) Dated 1915
    R53. 5c dull violet
    R54. 10c red-orange
    R55. 25c slate-grey
    R56. 50c magenta
    R57. 1l brown
    R58. 2l green
    R59. 3l olive
Picture
R61/68 (illustration reduced)
c) Dated 1916
    R61. 1c orange-brown
    R62. 2c bright blue
    R63. 5c dull violet
    R64. 10c red-orange
    R65. 25c slate-grey
    R66. 50c magenta
    R67. 1l brown
    R68. 2l green
Picture
R71/79 (illustration reduced)
d) Dated 1917
    R71. 1c orange-brown
    R72. 2c bright blue
    R73. 5c dull violet
    R74. 10c red-orange
    R75. 25c slate-grey
    R76. 50c magenta
    R77. 1l brown
    R78. 2l green
    R79. 3l olive
Picture
R81/89 (illustration reduced)
e) Dated 1918
    R81. 1c orange-brown
    R82. 2c bright blue
    R83. 5c dull violet
    R84. 10c red-orange
    R85. 25c slate-grey
    R86. 50c purple
    R87. 1l brown
    R88. 2l green
    R89. 3l olive
Picture
R91/99 (illustration reduced)
PictureR103/104
f) Dated 1919 (dates printed in black)
    R91. 1c orange-brown
    R92. 2c bright blue
    R93. 5c dull violet
    R94. 10c red-orange
    R95. 25c slate-grey
    R96. 50c purple
    R97. 1l brown
    R98. 2l green
    R99. 3l olive

g) Dated 1920 (dates printed in black in large figures)
    R103. 5c dull violet
    R104. 10c red-orange


Picture
R111/119 (illustration reduced)
h) Dated 1921
    R111. 1c orange-brown
    R112. 2c bright blue
    R113. 5c dull violet
    R114. 10c red-orange
    R115. 25c slate-grey
    R116. 50c purple
    R117. 1l brown
    R118. 2l green
    R119. 3l olive
Picture
R121/132
j) Dated 1922 (wavy lines in corners on lire values)
    R121. 1c orange-brown
    R122. 2c bright blue
    R123. 5c dull violet
    R124. 10c red-orange
    R125. 25c slate-grey
    R126. 50c purple
    R127. 1l brown
    R128. 2l green
    R129. 3l olive
    R130. 4l red-orange
    R131. 5l black
    R132. 10l lake

Notes:
1. Although the inscriptions on these issues suggests validity throughout the Italian Colonies, they were used only in Libya.  Similar stamps inscribed in Italian only were issued in Italian East Africa.
2. The dates were printed separately from the rest of the design and can sometimes be found misplaced.  Examples...
Picture
R141/149 (illustration reduced)
​1915-21.  As previous issue but with new dates overprinted in black over original inscription.

a) 1915 overprint on 1914 issue
    R141. 1c orange-brown
    R142. 2c bright blue
    R144. 10c red-orange
    R145. 25c slate-grey
    R146. 50c magenta
    R147. 1l brown
    R148. 2l green
    R149. 3l olive
Picture
R151/159 (illustration reduced)
b) 1916 overprint on 1914 issue
    R151. 1c orange-brown
    R152. 2c bright blue
    R154. 10c red-orange
    R155. 25c slate-grey
    R156. 50c magenta
    R157. 1l brown
    R158. 2l green
    R159. 3l olive
Picture
R163/169
c) 1916 overprint on 1915 issue
    R163. 5c dull violet
    R168. 2l green
    R169. 3l olive​

Note: Barefoot also lists the 25c similarly overprinted but I have not seen this.

Picture
R173/179
d) 1917 overprint on 1915 issue
    R173. 5c dull violet
    R175. 25c slate-grey
    R176. 50c magenta
    R177. 1l brown
    R178. 2l green
    R179. 3l olive
Picture
R183/189 (illustration reduced)
e) 1919 overprint on 1917 issue
    R183. 5c dull violet
    R184. 10c red-orange
    R185. 25c slate-grey
    R186. 50c magenta
    R187. 1l brown
    R188. 2l green
    R189. 3l olive
Picture
R196
Picture
R203/209
f) 1920 overprint on 1916 on 1914 issue
    R196. 50c magenta
​
Note: Barefoot additionally lists the 5c 1916 overprinted 1920 but I have not seen this.

g) 1920 overprint on 1917 issue
    R203. 5c dull violet
    R204. 10c red-orange
    R205. 25c slate-grey
    R206. 50c magenta
    R209. 3l olive

Note: Barefoot additionally lists the 1l similarly overprinted but I have not seen this.
Picture
R213/219 (illustration reduced)
h) 1920 overprint on 1919 issue (1919 printed in black)
    R213. 5c dull violet
    R214. 10c red-orange
    R215. 25c slate-grey
    R216. 50c purple
    R217. 1l brown
    R218. 2l green
    R219. 3l olive
Picture
R221/229 (illustration reduced)
j) 1920 overprint on 1919 (1919 printed in colour - not issued without overprint)
    R221. 1c orange-brown
    R222. 2c bright blue
    R223. 5c dull violet
    R224. 10c red-orange
    R225. 25c slate-grey
    R226. 50c purple
    R227. 1l brown
    R228. 2l green
    R229. 3l olive
Picture
R235/239
k) 1921 overprint on 1919 issue (1919 printed in black)
    R235. 25c slate-grey
    R238. 2l green
    R239. 3l olive
Picture
R241, R251/3
​1920-21.  Previous issue surcharged.

a) New value in western and Arabic figures without cancelling bar
    R241. 10c on 2c bright blue (1921)

b) New value shown as Cent. 5 or Cent. 10 with four bars cancelling original value
    R251. 5c on 2c bright blue (1921)
    R252. 10c on 1c orange-brown (1920 on 1919 in black)

    R253. 10c on 1c orange-brown (1921)
Picture
R261/272
​1923.  As 1914-22 issue but with no dates shown in tablets at foot.  Inscribed in both Italian and Arabic.  Perf x.  Wmk Two Crowns (sideways).  Note: similar stamps inscribed in Italian only were issued for Italian East Africa.

    R261. 5c dull purple
    R262. 10c orange-red
​    R263. 20c bright blue
    R264. 25c slate-grey
    R265. 50c magenta
    R266. 1l brown
    R267. 2l green
    R268. 3l olive
    R269. 4l orange
    R270. 5l black
    R271. 10l lake
    R272. 50l slate and pale rose

Notes:
​1. Barefoot omits the 20c but includes a 1c and 2c with this set, which I believe is an error.
2. The 10c, 20c, 50c, 1l, 10l and 50l values are known with sideways-inverted watermark.
Picture
R281/296 including all listed perf varieties
PictureR297
1939.  17½ x 21½ mm.  New revenue key type for Italian Colonies showing portrait of King Victor Emmanuel looking towards left of stamp.  Inscribed Africa Italiana Marca da Bollo in Italian only, with figures of value shown in western, Ethiopian and Arabic numerals.  Printer's imprint Ist. Pol. Stato - Off. Carte Valori at foot.  Wmk Crown.  Perf 14.

    R281. 5c bistre
    R282. 10c deep blue

​      a. Perf 11 x 14
​      c. Perf 14 x 11
    R283. 20c brown-purple

​      a. Perf 11 x 14
    R284. 25c black
    R285. 50c carmine-lake

​      a. Perf 11 x 14
    R286. 1l slate

​      a. Perf 11 x 14
​      b. Perf 11
​      c. Perf 14 x 11
    R287. 2l orange

​      b. Perf 11
    R288. 3l deep green
    R289. 4l greenish grey

​      b. Perf 11
​      c. Perf 14 x 11
    R290. 5l red-brown
    R291. 8l brown

​      b. Perf 11
    R292. 10l claret

​      a. Perf 11 x 14
    R293. 20l deep violet
​      a. Perf 11 x 14
    R294. 30l blue
    R295. 40l magenta

​      a. Perf 11 x 14
    R296. 50l blue-green

    R297. 60l sepia

Note: this issue was valid for use in all the Italian Colonies in Africa.

1940s.  British Occupation of Tripolitania.  Revenue stamps of Italian Colonies overprinted B.M.A. (= British Military Administration) in seriffed letters 2mm high.

a) Overprinted on Colonie Italiane issues of x and y (1949)
    T1. 30l blue and pale rose (king facing to left of stamp)
    T2. 40l blue and pale green (king facing to right of stamp)

​
Notes:
1. T1/2 were not issued in Libya without the BMA overprint but only in Italian East Africa
2. .Recorded usage: November 1949 (T1).



b) Overprinted on Africa Italiana issue of 1939

    T3. 50c carmine
    T4. 1l slate-grey
    T5. 2l red-orange
    T6. 4l olive-brown
    T7. 10l reddish purple (perf 14)
​      a. Perf 11 x 14
    T8. 30l blue
    T9. 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. T9 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, T8), 18th May 1948 (T7), 30th May 1948 (T5), 18th November 1949 (T1).  Latest recorded use – 29th January 1951 (T9).

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.)

   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.)

   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.

   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

​
1952 (recorded usage January to May).  Key type featuring Tajura Mosque, east Tripoli.  Inscribed REVENUE in English and Tax Department of Tripolitania at foot in Arabic.  24½ x 30 mm.  Perf 11½ (line).  No watermark.  Currency in MAL (=Military Administration Lire).  Figures of value in black.
​
   T51. 1l indigo
   T52. 3l brown
   T53. 4l deep brown
   T54. 5l orange
   T55. 6l orange-red
   T56. 8l bright purple
   T57. 10l carmine-lake
   T59. 20l bright green
   T60. 25l green
   T61. 30l greyish violet
   T62. 40l violet
   T63. 60l blue
   T64. 100l ultramarine
   T65. 200l chocolate

Notes:
1. In addition to the values listed above, Erler lists the 12l but I have not seen this.
2. 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.
3. Recorded usage:
  • T54 - 5/3/52
  • T55 - 17/5/52
  • T57 - 29/1/52
  • T59 - 5/3/52
  • T60 - 29/1/52 to 3/3/52
  • T61 - 2/2/52

Social Security
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

Weights and Measures / Pesi e Mesuri
Picture
Rows 1 & 2 - W1/9, rows 3 & 4 - W12/19, row 5 - W24/29
c​1910s.  Weights and Measures stamps of Italy (1910 issue, 19 x 22 mm) overprinted for use in Libya.  Printed in pairs, showing the value in numerals on the left-hand stamp and the king's head on the right-hand stamp in each pair.  Used examples are found only as singles.

a) Overprinted LIBIA
    W1. 10c grey-blue and green
    W3. 40c blue and orange
    W4. 1l blue-green and grey-blue
    W6. 3l scarlet and blue-green
    W9. 30l violet and orange-yellow

b) Overprinted Cirenaica
    W12. 20c violet and rose
    W14. 1l blue-green and grey-blue
    W15. 2l blue-green and mauve
    W17. 5l yellow-orange and brown
    W18. 10l violet and brown
    W19. 30l violet and orange-yellow

c) Overprinted Tripolitania
    W24. 1l blue-green and grey-blue
    W26. 3l scarlet and blue-green
    W27. 5l yellow-orange and brown
    W28. 10l violet and brown
    W29. 30l violet and orange-yellow

Note: Barefoot additionally lists a 5l60c value opt Tripolitania but I have not seen this.
Picture
Top three rows - W34/44; bottom row W33, W63, W72, W81
c​1920s-30s.  As previous series but overprinted on the 1925 issue of Italy (22 x 27½ mm).

a) Overprinted LIBIA
    W33. 30c blue and green
    W34. 35c indigo and chocolate
    W37. 2l blue-green and magenta
    W38. 4l brick-red and purple
    W39. 5l orange and brown
    W40. 10l mauve and brown
    W41. 20l dull red and deep blue
    W42. 30l scarlet and blue
    W43. 40l carmine and orange
    W44. 50l carmine and brown-purple

b) Overprinted CIRENAICA
    W63. 40l carmine and orange

c) Overprinted TRIPOLITANIA
    W72. 25c green and brown-purple
    W81. 20l dull red and deep blue

Notes:
1. Both Barefoot and Bussoli illustrate stamps similar to my W63 and W81 but with the overprints in mixed case.  Bussoli's images are clearly digital creations but Barefoot may be reproducing actual stamps, in which case these need to be added to my listing.  I would be grateful to any reader who can supply colour scans of these stamps.
2. Barefoot additionally lists a 40l value with Tripolitania overprint but I have not seen this.

Municipal
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 carmine
​
Note: 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.

1944-52 (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

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

M14a in tête-bêche block of 4
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:
  • M11 - 5/2/45 to 16/2/46
  • M11a - 12/7/45
  • M13 - 5/44 to 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



December 1952 (recorded usage).  As previous issue but surcharged in new currency (mils) with a thick black bar cancelling previous figures of value.

    M31. 6m on 
20l orange

Stamp paper
Picture
Z1/6
PictureZ6 shown as complete paper
c​1930s.  Designs showing features of ancient Roman Libya - statue of Septimius Severus at Leptis Magna (1l), head of Mercury (2l, 4l & 10l), Arms of ancient colony of Oea (3l & 5l).

a) Inscribed LIBIA


    Z1. 1l black
    Z2. 2l brown
    Z3. 3l black
    Z4. 4l grey-black
    Z5. 5l brown
    Z6. 10l brown

Picture
Z12, Z15, Z22/a, Z23, Z25 (Z14 image to be added)
PictureZ22 (top) and Z22a inscriptions enlarged
b) Inscribed CIRENAICA
    Z12. 2l brown
    Z14. 4l grey-black
    Z15. 5l brown

c) Inscribed TRIPOLITANIA

    Z22. 2l brown (Arabic inscription Tripolitania)
     a. Arabic inscription Province of Tripolitania
    Z23. 3l black
    Z25. 5l brown

Picture
Z31, Z41/43 (stamp impressions)
​1945-46 (recorded usage).  Pre-war stamp paper Z3 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 - December 1945 to February 1946
  • Z41 - January 1947 to November 1950
  • Z42 - August 1951
  • Z43 - October 1946

Previous page: xxx
Next page: xxx
Back to xxx main menu
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.