International Postage Meter Stamp Catalog/Tunisia
Tunisia[edit | edit source]
- The first meter was used in 1932 during period of French control. The country achieved independence in 1960.
- The stamps are grouped according to political inscription and use:
- A - French Protectorate: Inscribed TUNISIE
- B - Independent Tunisia, with Arabic inscription over TUNISIE
- PO - Special stamps generated only by Post Office meters
GROUP A: French Protectorate, frank inscribed “TUNISIE”[edit | edit source]
A1. Havas “Grandjean” (FV-6). [$35]
- Small, upright frank with simulated perforation frame open at center of both sides.
- “POSTES” curved above M# at bottom.
- M# “B.0345” known.
- TM: SL
A2. Havas “C” (MV).
- As Type A1 but M# with different prefix.
- With or without 4-digit impression counter number high above slogan / TM line.
- TM: SL
A3. Havas "K" (MV).
A5. Satas "C" (MV).
- As Type A1 but M# with different prefix.
- A. M# with "SC" prefix
- B. M# with "SCW" prefix
- TM: SL
- V/F: ★00F ★000F ★0.oo ★00.oo
A6. Satas "D" (MV).
A7. Satas "E" (MV).
GROUP B: Independent Tunisia, dual country inscription in both Arabic and French[edit | edit source]
B1. Satas “C” (MV), 1960. [$5]
B2. Satas “D” (MV).
B4. Havas “M” (MV).
B5. Satas “R” (MV), 1967.
- a. Unengraved TM with square in center for date.
- b. Without frank frame. Town mark, value figures and slogan only
B6. Satas “J” (MV).
- As Type B5 but date figures taller and M# with “SJ” prefix.
- Value figures widely spaced.
- TM: SC
- V/F: ★00 0000
B7. Havas “P” (MV).
B8. Postalia “D2/D3” (MV).
B9. Postalia “MS5/WK4” (MV).
- As Type B8 but date figures are taller, and the spacing between the TM and frank is wider.
- M# with “F” prefix.
- TM: DC
- V/F: 0000
B10. Pitney Bowes-GB “5000” (MV). [$5]
- Square frank with M# breaking bottom frame line.
- “TUNISIE” above “POSTES” at top of frank.
- Date figures are raised in relation to value figures.
- M# with “PB” prefix.
- TM: DC
B11. Pitney Bowes-GB “6300” (MV).
- Similar to Types B5-B7, but frank not quite as tall.
- Date and value figures are on the same level.
- M# with “PB” prefix.
- TM: DC
- V/F: ≋000
B12. Hasler “Mailmaster” (MV).
- Wide frank with complete simulated-perforation outer border.
- “TUNISIE” at bottom above M# which breaks frame line.
- M# with “H” prefix.
- TM: DC
- V/F: 0000
B13. Pitney Bowes-GB “6600” series (MV).
B14. Pitney Bowes-GB “A/B900” (MV).
- Similar to B13 but smaller and wider than tall.
- Value figures and meter number relatively large.
- M# with “PB2” prefix.
- TM: DC
- V/F: 00,000
B15. Pitney Bowes, model unidentified (digital).
- Similar to B14 but slightly taller.
- Value figures are more tightly spaced.
- "TUNISIA" and "POSTES" larger.
- M# with “PB1” prefix.
- TM: DC with widely spaced date figures
B16. Neopost, model unidentified (digital), 2008.
- Nearly square franked spaced very closely to the town mark.
- "TUNISIA" at top is quite large.
- M# with “F” prefix.
- TM: SC
- V/F: 00,000
GROUP PO: Special stamps generated only by Post Office machines[edit | edit source]
PO1. Havas “C” (MV), 1940s. [$25]
- “TUNISIE” alone at top.
- Used for Registration.
- Printed on yellow adhesive labels with large “R” at left.
- M# “CR 003” known.
PO2. Satas “P” (MV).
- Similar to Group B types but without meter number.
- Date figures tall.
- Hour figure with small “H” between TM and frank.
- TM: SC
- V/F: ★000
PO3. Camp “PR” (MV).
- “TUNISIE” alone at top.
- With hour figure between TM and frank; spacing very narrow.
- M# with “PR” prefix.
- Printed on plain white adhesive labels.
- TM: SC
- V/F: ★ 0 0 0
PO4. Camp (MV).
- As Type PO3 but with bilingual inscriptions, “POSTES” at top, “TUNISIE” at bottom.
- Hour figure between TM and frank.
- TM: SC
- V/F: ★ 0 0 0
PO5. Camp (MV).
- Similar to Type PO4 but “TUNISIE” at top and “POSTES” at bottom.
- Hour figure between TM and frank.
- TM: SC
- V/F: ★ 0 0 0
- a. “H” alone, without hour number between TM and frank (shown)
PO6. Neopost (digital), 2014.
- Frank wider than tall.
- “TUNISIE” at top, “POSTES” reading up at left, M# at bottom.
- M# with "N" prefix.
- TM: DC
- V/F: 00000
PO7. Sercem "MIVA" (digital), 1996 or earlier. [Probably quite rare]
- Wide self-adhesive label with underprint of round ornaments in pale citron. The frank is at right and is similar in shape to the TMs with Types PO2-5 but is without Arabic inscriptions. “REPUBLIQUE/ TUNISIENNE” is at top, “POSTES” above an ID number is at bottom.
- The town mark is square with the Post Office identification at top.
- Running through the center of both the TM and frank are the date, hour, and value figures.
- The one stamp reported has solid blocks appearing is several places in the stamp. The blocks obscure parts of the Post Office identification and value figures. They may have been generated by a malfunction. This stamp was used for registered mail and has a large "R" and framed "AR" in black at far left.
- M# 1000 G 25
- TM: SL
- V/F: 00000?
NOTE: The blue postmark shown at right appears to be a digital Neopost meter stamp but it is actually a cancellation mark. Within the rectangle is a postal logo above LA POSTE TUNISIENNE and nothing else.