International Postage Meter Stamp Catalog/Libya

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Libya[edit | edit source]

  • The earliest meter stamp seen is dated 1959.
  • The stamps are grouped according to political conditions:
A - issues of the Kingdom, 1959 to 1969, inscribed “UNITED KINGDOM OF LIBYA” or “KINGDOM OF LIBYA”
B - issues of the Libyan Arab Republic, 1969 to 1977, inscribed “”L.A.R.” or, provisionally, with kingdom era inscription obliterated.
C - issues of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, 1977 to 2011, inscribed “JAMAHIRIYA”, or “SPLAJ”.



GROUP A: Issues of the UNITED KINGDOM OF LIBYA, 1959 to 1969[edit | edit source]

  • Crown at top of frank



A1. Universal “MultiValue” (MV), 1959. [$10]

Tall, upright frank with simulated perforation outer border and straight-line inner border.
Inscribed “UNITED KINGDOM/ OF LIBYA” at bottom.
M# with “U” prefix in small boxes in the lower corners.
TM: DC
V/F: 0ooo





A2. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV), 1962. [$20]

Frank not as tall as Type A1.
Country name in banner at bottom.
Small M# with “P.B.” prefix beneath banner at bottom center.
TM: DC
V/F: =000





A3. Universal “Multi-Value” (MV). [$10]

Frank inscribed “KINGDOM OF LIBYA” in one line at bottom.
M# with “U” prefix breaking frame lines at bottom center.
TM: DC
V/F: 0ooo





A4. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV), 1966. [$10]

Very similar to Type A3 but M# with “P.B.” prefix.
Value figures are of uniform thickness.
TM: DC
V/F: =000








GROUP B: Issues of the LIBYAN ARAB REPUBLIC, 1969 to 1977[edit | edit source]


B1. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV). [$50]
As type A4, but crown removed from top center, and “KINGDOM OF LIBYA” obliterated at bottom.
M# with P.B.45 seen.
TM: DC
V/F: =000





B2. Pitney Bowes (GB) “MultiValue” (MV). [$10]
Arabic inscriptions at top and sides, “L.A.R.” at bottom.
M# in Arabic breaks bottom frame line.
TM: DC
V/F: 0ooo






B3. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV). [$5]
Nearly identical to Type B2 but value figures are of uniform thickness.
TM: DC
V/F: =000





B4. Hasler “F88” (MV). [$25]
Horizontal frank with single, straight-line frame.
Large eagle emblem at left of value figures.
Inscribed “L.A.R.” below value figures.
TM: SC
V/F: 0,ooo








GROUP C: Issues of the SOCIALIST PEOPLE’S LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA, 1977 to 2011[edit | edit source]



C1. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV), 1983.

As Type B2 but inscribed “JAMAHIRYA” at bottom.
M# breaks bottom frame lines.
TM: DC
V/F: =000




C2. Steiner-Primavera (MV).

Similar forma to Type C1 but frank is narrower.
M# is above bottom frame lines.
Very narrow spacing between TM and frank.
A. With Arabic character and number at bottom
B. Blank below "JAMAHIRIYA"
TM: SC
V/F: 000

NOTE: One of these stamps, A or B, was allegedly used by the Central Bank of Libya. It is possible though that they are essays.





C3. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV).

Large square frank with straight-line border.
Inscribed “JAMAHIRYA” in panel at bottom.
TM: DC
V/F: =000

NOTE: Only one example seen, and it has the frank frame inverted.





C4. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV).

Large square frank with double straight-line frame line with dashed segments inside.
Inscribed “S•P•L•A•J” in bottom panel.
Without meter number.
One seen, without town mark.
V/F: =000







NOTE: The area of Libya called Cyrenaica was occupied by Italy from 1911 to about 1943.

In 1932 a meter was used by the Savings Bank of Bengasi. The meter had an Italian frank with town mark reading “BENGASI/ CIRENAICA”.

See Italy Type A7d for this rare stamp.