Libya: Kingdom federal issues (1951-1969)
An illustrated key to Libyan revenues since 1943 can be found here
Chapter overview
*Note: the dates of issue in the sections marked with an asterisk above 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.
Chapter overview
- Mujahid provisionals
- King Idris provisionals
- Large Arms key types*
- Small Arms key types*
- Tajura Mosque
- Benghazi Town Hall*
- Oil wells*
- Stamp paper
*Note: the dates of issue in the sections marked with an asterisk above 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.
Mujahid provisionals
#1, 3, 4a (#4 image to be added)
c1951. Mujahid postage stamps of Cyrenaica with bilingual LIBYA overprint (= SG 140ff) further overprinted Revenue in mixed case, in English only.
1. 50m ultramarine and purple-brown
3. 200m violet and deep blue
4. 500m orange-yellow and green
a. REVENUE in capitals
It is possible that these stamps were for use in Cyrenaica only, since Tripolitania and Fezzan did not use millièmes as their currency until 1952.
1. 50m ultramarine and purple-brown
3. 200m violet and deep blue
4. 500m orange-yellow and green
a. REVENUE in capitals
It is possible that these stamps were for use in Cyrenaica only, since Tripolitania and Fezzan did not use millièmes as their currency until 1952.
King Idris provisionals
#6/7 (#5 image to be added)
1954 (earliest known usage). King Idris postage stamps (= SG 185/7) overprinted in English and Arabic, or without opt (#18). Perf 11½. No watermark.
a) Overprinted REVENUE (sideways reading upwards on 100m and 200m, upright on 500m)
5. 100m carmine and black
6. 200m reddish violet and deep blue
7. 500m orange-yellow and deep green
a) Overprinted REVENUE (sideways reading upwards on 100m and 200m, upright on 500m)
5. 100m carmine and black
6. 200m reddish violet and deep blue
7. 500m orange-yellow and deep green
#11/13
b) Overprinted FEDERAL REVENUE (recorded usage May 1955)
11. 100m carmine and black
12. 200m reddish violet and deep blue
13. 500m orange-yellow and deep green
c) Fiscally used without overprint
18. 500m orange-yellow and deep green
11. 100m carmine and black
12. 200m reddish violet and deep blue
13. 500m orange-yellow and deep green
c) Fiscally used without overprint
18. 500m orange-yellow and deep green
Large Arms key types
Coat of Arms in large format (27 x 32 mm) with curved inscription United Kingdom of Libya at foot. Perf 11½. No watermark. Printed (recess) by Bradbury Wilkinson.
Coat of Arms in large format (27 x 32 mm) with curved inscription United Kingdom of Libya at foot. Perf 11½. No watermark. Printed (recess) by Bradbury Wilkinson.
#21/26
a) 1955-60. Inscribed CONSULAR SERVICE below Arms.
21. 50m purple and deep green
22. 100m black and red-brown (1958)
23. 200m black and scarlet
24. £L¼ green and brown-purple (1958)
25. £L½ green and violet
26. £L1 deep blue and deep brown
Individual printings:
Req 0/100962 (16 May 1955): 50m, 200m, £L½, £1
Req 0/114938 (29 Aug 1957): 50m
Req 0/120573 (10 Sep 1958): 50m, 100m, £L¼, £L½, £L1
Req 0/127689 (21 Dec 1959): 200m
Req 0/130338 (10 Jun 1960): 50m, 100m, £L¼, £L½, £L1
21. 50m purple and deep green
22. 100m black and red-brown (1958)
23. 200m black and scarlet
24. £L¼ green and brown-purple (1958)
25. £L½ green and violet
26. £L1 deep blue and deep brown
Individual printings:
Req 0/100962 (16 May 1955): 50m, 200m, £L½, £1
Req 0/114938 (29 Aug 1957): 50m
Req 0/120573 (10 Sep 1958): 50m, 100m, £L¼, £L½, £L1
Req 0/127689 (21 Dec 1959): 200m
Req 0/130338 (10 Jun 1960): 50m, 100m, £L¼, £L½, £L1
#31, #33/36
b) 1956-62. Inscribed FEDERAL REVENUE below Arms.
31. 50m purple and deep green (1958)
[32. 100m grey-green and claret (1961)]
33. 200m black and scarlet
34. £L¼ green and brown-purple (1958)
35. £L½ green and violet
36. £L1 deep blue and deep brown
Individual printings:
Req 0/104541 (8 Nov 1955): 200m, £L½, £L1 - probably not issued until early 1956
Req 0/114937 (29 Aug 1957): £L1
Req 0/120328 (21 Aug 1958): 50m, 200m, £L¼, £L½, £L1
Req 0/132857 (19 Apr 1961): 100m, 200m, £L½, £L1
Req 0/136793 (5 Nov 1962): 200m, £L½, £L1
Note: the three values of the first printing (200m, £L½ and £1) are also known with red Specimen overprint, as shown below.
31. 50m purple and deep green (1958)
[32. 100m grey-green and claret (1961)]
33. 200m black and scarlet
34. £L¼ green and brown-purple (1958)
35. £L½ green and violet
36. £L1 deep blue and deep brown
Individual printings:
Req 0/104541 (8 Nov 1955): 200m, £L½, £L1 - probably not issued until early 1956
Req 0/114937 (29 Aug 1957): £L1
Req 0/120328 (21 Aug 1958): 50m, 200m, £L¼, £L½, £L1
Req 0/132857 (19 Apr 1961): 100m, 200m, £L½, £L1
Req 0/136793 (5 Nov 1962): 200m, £L½, £L1
Note: the three values of the first printing (200m, £L½ and £1) are also known with red Specimen overprint, as shown below.
Small Arms key types
Coat of Arms in smaller format (22 x 26 mm), inscribed United Kingdom of Libya. Perf 13. No watermark. Printed (recess) by Bradbury Wilkinson.
Coat of Arms in smaller format (22 x 26 mm), inscribed United Kingdom of Libya. Perf 13. No watermark. Printed (recess) by Bradbury Wilkinson.
#44/45
a) 1963. Inscribed CONSULAR SERVICE below Arms.
[41. 50m purple and deep green]
[42. 100m grey-green and claret]
[43. £L¼ green and brown-purple]
44. £L½ green and violet
45. £L1 deep blue and deep brown
All values were produced in a single printing (Req 0/137266) dated 15 Jan 1963.
Note: For similar stamps but inscribed KINGDOM OF LIBYA at foot (without UNITED), see #51/53.
[41. 50m purple and deep green]
[42. 100m grey-green and claret]
[43. £L¼ green and brown-purple]
44. £L½ green and violet
45. £L1 deep blue and deep brown
All values were produced in a single printing (Req 0/137266) dated 15 Jan 1963.
Note: For similar stamps but inscribed KINGDOM OF LIBYA at foot (without UNITED), see #51/53.
#46
b) 1963. Inscribed FEDERAL REVENUE below Arms.
46. £L1 deep blue and deep brown
[47. £L3 orange and carmine]
Both values were produced in a single printing (Req 0/136928) dated 20 Nov 1962, with the stamps being issued probably in early 1963.
46. £L1 deep blue and deep brown
[47. £L3 orange and carmine]
Both values were produced in a single printing (Req 0/136928) dated 20 Nov 1962, with the stamps being issued probably in early 1963.
#48
c) 1963. Inscribed FEDERAL REVENUE below Arms, and PRIORITY reading upwards at sides.
48. £L1 salmon and olive
Produced in a single printing (Req 0/137090) dated 28 Jan 1963.
Similar small-format Arms types (22 x 26 mm) but inscription at foot changed to Kingdom of Libya. Perf 13. No watermark. Printed (recess) by Bradbury Wilkinson.
#52/53
a) 1964-67. Inscribed CONSULAR SERVICE below Arms.
[51. £L¼ green and brown-purple (1965)]
52. £L½ green and violet
53. £L1 deep blue and deep brown
Individual printings:
Req 0/142036 (15 Sep 1964): £L½, £L1
Req 0/144439 (20 Oct 1965): £L¼, £L½, £L1
Req F/145359 (7 Mar 1967): £L¼, £L½, £L1
[51. £L¼ green and brown-purple (1965)]
52. £L½ green and violet
53. £L1 deep blue and deep brown
Individual printings:
Req 0/142036 (15 Sep 1964): £L½, £L1
Req 0/144439 (20 Oct 1965): £L¼, £L½, £L1
Req F/145359 (7 Mar 1967): £L¼, £L½, £L1
#56/57
b) 1964-67. Inscribed REVENUE below Arms.
56. £L½ green and violet (1967)
57. £L1 deep blue and deep brown
58. [£L2 yellow and grey-black (1967)]
Individual printings:
Req 0/141704 (30 Jul 1964): £L1
Req F/145624 (29 Aug 1967): £L½, £L1, £L2
56. £L½ green and violet (1967)
57. £L1 deep blue and deep brown
58. [£L2 yellow and grey-black (1967)]
Individual printings:
Req 0/141704 (30 Jul 1964): £L1
Req F/145624 (29 Aug 1967): £L½, £L1, £L2
Tajura Mosque
#61/74 (images of other values to be added)
1965-69 (recorded usage). Tajura Mosque type similar to T91ff of Tripolitania (see Kingdom regional issues), but without REVENUE in English and inscribed Kingdom of Libya Taxes and Fees at foot in Arabic. 24½ x 29½ mm. Perf 11½. No watermark. Figures of value in same colour as rest of design. Printer unknown.
#61 and #64 x3 enlarged to show printing variations in value tablets
61. 1m grey
62. 2m blue
63. 5m brown
64. 10m orange
65. 15m purple
66. 20m carmine
67. 25m orange-yellow
68. 30m brown
69. 40m green
70. 50m blue-green
71. 100m indigo
72. 250m violet
73. 500m blue
74. 1000m rose-lake
75. 1563m red-orange
Note: A range of printing varieties can be found in this issue, including blotches of ink beside the figures of value as illustrated here. Different examples of the same stamp can show variations in the shape of the figures, such as the three examples of #64 illustrated here with the Arabic figure 1 vertical, slanting slightly and diagonal. It is not known whether these represent different printings or whether they are variations within the same sheet.
Recorded usage:
62. 2m blue
63. 5m brown
64. 10m orange
65. 15m purple
66. 20m carmine
67. 25m orange-yellow
68. 30m brown
69. 40m green
70. 50m blue-green
71. 100m indigo
72. 250m violet
73. 500m blue
74. 1000m rose-lake
75. 1563m red-orange
Note: A range of printing varieties can be found in this issue, including blotches of ink beside the figures of value as illustrated here. Different examples of the same stamp can show variations in the shape of the figures, such as the three examples of #64 illustrated here with the Arabic figure 1 vertical, slanting slightly and diagonal. It is not known whether these represent different printings or whether they are variations within the same sheet.
Recorded usage:
- 61 - 26/1/65 to 25/1/69
- 62 - 28/1/65 to 20/3/68
- 63 - 25/3/68
- 64 - 3/8/65 to 16/1/67
- 65 - 25/3/68
- 66 - 26/1/65 to 25/1/69
- 67 - 6/5/65 to 24/8/68
- 68 - 14/11/66
- 69 - 14/11/66 to 20/3/68
- 70 - 28/1/65 to 20/3/68
- 71 - 14/2/65 to 20/2/68
Benghazi Town Hall
#81/84 (#85 image to be added)
1964-68. Benghazi Town Hall type similar to C51ff of Cyrenaica (see Kingdom regional issues), but inscribed Kingdom of Libya (top) and Taxes and Fees (bottom), in Arabic only. 27 x 32 mm. Perf 11½. No wmk. Printed (recess) by Bradbury Wilkinson.
81. 5m blue
82. 10m orange
83. 20m grey-black
84. 50m brown
85. 100m purple
[86. 250m deep green]
[87. 500m carmine-lake]
Individual printings:
Req 0/141740 (27 Aug 1964): 10m, 20m, 50m
Req 0/142540 (undated): 5m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req 0/144453 (29 Nov 1965): 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 500m
Req F/144951 (21 Jul 1966): 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req F/145531 (30 Jun 1967): 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req F/146027 (9 Mar 1968): 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
81. 5m blue
82. 10m orange
83. 20m grey-black
84. 50m brown
85. 100m purple
[86. 250m deep green]
[87. 500m carmine-lake]
Individual printings:
Req 0/141740 (27 Aug 1964): 10m, 20m, 50m
Req 0/142540 (undated): 5m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req 0/144453 (29 Nov 1965): 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 500m
Req F/144951 (21 Jul 1966): 5m, 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req F/145531 (30 Jun 1967): 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Req F/146027 (9 Mar 1968): 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m, 250m, 500m
Oil wells
#91/93, 95 9#94 and #96 images to be added)
1968. Coat of Arms and map of Libya featuring oil wells and other national symbols, 27 x 31½ mm. Inscribed Kingdom of Libya Revenue Department in Arabic and English. Perf 11½. No wmk. Printed (recess) by Bradbury Wilkinson.
91. 5m green
92. 10m violet
93. 20m deep blue
94. 30m red-orange
95. 50m grey-black
96. 100m brown
[97. 250m purple]
[98. 500m deep green]
[99. 1000m carmine]
All values were produced in a single printing (Req F/146275/307) dated 26 Jul 1968.
Note: For similar stamps overprinted with Arabic letters, see Libya (Republic and People's Republic) #100a/b.
91. 5m green
92. 10m violet
93. 20m deep blue
94. 30m red-orange
95. 50m grey-black
96. 100m brown
[97. 250m purple]
[98. 500m deep green]
[99. 1000m carmine]
All values were produced in a single printing (Req F/146275/307) dated 26 Jul 1968.
Note: For similar stamps overprinted with Arabic letters, see Libya (Republic and People's Republic) #100a/b.
Stamp paper
1950s-60s. Similar to #61/74 but impressed stamps.
Z72/77
a) Printed bills of exchange, small figures of value
Z72. 5m black
Z73. 6m black
Z74. 11m black
Z77. 71m black
Z72. 5m black
Z73. 6m black
Z74. 11m black
Z77. 71m black
Complete bill showing Z77
Z81/82 (no other image of Z82 available)
b) General-purpose stamp paper with impressed stamp measuring 35 x 42 mm, large figures of value. First recorded usage 1963.
Z81. 21m blue
Z82. 31m red-orange
Z81. 21m blue
Z82. 31m red-orange
Upper portion of complete document bearing Z81
Note: an illustrated key to Libyan revenues since 1943 can be found here
