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Libya: An illustrated key to the different types used since 1943



This page is provided as an aid to identifying Libyan revenue stamps from 1943 to the present day.  Under the illustration of a particular design or type is a pointer to the place in the catalogue text where a fuller description can be found.  The Libya listing is divided into four sections:

  • British Occupation (1943-1951)
  • Kingdom regional issues (1951-1969)
  • Kingdom federal issues (1951-1969)
  • Republic and People's Republic (1969-present)

This illustration page is arranged as follows:
  1. Overprinted or surcharged types
  2. Unoverprinted types
  3. A detailed guide to identifying the post-1969 octagon key types

1. Overprinted or surcharged types
Picture
British Occupation
Cyrenaica C1/2
Picture
(King facing left or right)
British Occupation
Tripolitania T1/2
Picture
British Occupation
Tripoli Municipal M11/31
Picture
British Occupation
Tripoli Municipal M4/6

Picture
The five types shown above (with or without surcharge in MAL) are listed under British Occupation Tripolitania
From left to right: T3/10 (seriffed overprint), T11/18 (bold sans-serif overprint), T21/17, T31/35 and T41/44

 
Picture
British Occupation
Bill of Exchange B1/12
Picture
(Arabic diagonal overprint)
Kingdom regional issues
Cyrenaica C13/20
Picture
British Occupation
Cyrenaica C11/13 and
Kingdom federal issues

Mujahid provisionals #1/4a
Picture
(Or same type opt REVENUE)
Kingdom federal issues
King Idris provisionals #5/18

2. Unoverprinted types
Picture
(REVENUE at top)
Kingdom regional issues
Tripolitania T51/123
Picture
(Without REVENUE)
Kingdom federal issues
Tajura Mosque #61/75
Picture
Kingdom regional issues
Tripoli Municipal M41/66
Picture
Kingdom federal issues
Oil wells #91/99 and
​Republic & People's Rep
Revenue R101/108

Picture
(27 x 32 mm)
Kingdom federal issues
Large Arms #21/36
Picture
(22 x 26 mm)
Kingdom federal issues
Small Arms #41/58
Picture
Picture
(Or Mosque in similar frame)
Kingdom regional issues
Cyrenaica C41/59
Picture
Picture
(Different inscription at top)
Kingdom federal issues
Office building #81/87

Picture
Kingdom regional issues - Fezzan F1/8
Picture
Kingdom regional issues - Fezzan F11

Picture
Republic & People's Rep
Revenue R113/223
(see guide below)
Picture
Republic & People's Rep
Consular C101/3
or War Tax W101
Picture
Republic & People's Rep
Consular C111/131
or War Tax W111/121
Picture
Republic & People's Rep
Consular C142/176

Picture
Republic and People's Republic
Airport Tax A1/3
Picture
Republic & People's Rep
Medical fee L1/2
Picture
Republic & People's Rep
Municipal M71/104


Picture
3. A detailed guide to identifying the post-1969 octagon key types

No fewer than eight separate revenue issues since 1969 have been based on the same design of a central octagon with rounded edges, surrounded by four rectangular panels.  The large number of variations - coupled with the fact that all the inscriptions are in Arabic only - can make these issues difficult to distinguish.

The enlarged illustrations below are designed to help with identification.  Each different type of top, side and bottom panel is given a capital letter reference, then the table at the foot of this page shows which combination corresponds to which catalogue numbers.

TOP PANEL (country name)


A. One line of Arabic:
'The Libyan Arab Republic’


B. Two lines of Arabic:
'
Socialist People’s
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya’



C. Two lines of Arabic:
Almost identical to B but with 'Great'
added at left-hand end of second line
Picture


SIDE PANELS (appropriation)



J. Left and right panels different:
‘Taxes’ at left ‘and Fees’ at right





K. Left and right panels different:
‘Department of’ at left, ‘Taxes’ at right





L. Left and right panels identical:
‘Bureau of Taxes’





M. Left and right panels identical:
‘Department of Taxes’







N. Left and right panels identical:
‘Department of Taxes’
Sharper and taller letters than type M

Picture


BOTTOM PANEL (value tablet)


V.
Arabic numerals
Currency in millièmes


W. Arabic numerals
Currency in dirhams




X. Western numerals
Currency in dirhams
Picture

The following table shows the catalogue numbers corresponding to each known combination.

                                 Top A    +    Side J    +    Bottom V    =    R113/136
                                 Top A    +    Side J    +    Bottom W    =    R141/7
                                 Top A    +    Side K    +    Bottom W    =    R152/7
                                 Top B    +    Side K    +    Bottom W    =    R162/9
                                 Top B    +    Side L    +    Bottom W    =    R173/8
                                 Top C    +    Side L    +    Bottom X    =    R181/7
                                 Top C    +    Side M    +    Bottom X    =    R191/207
                                 Top C    +    Side N    +    Bottom X    =    R215/7

All these series are listed on the Libya: Republic and People's Republic page.

Libya: British Occupation
Libya: Kingdom regional issues
Libya: Kingdom federal issues
Libya: Republic and People's Republic
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