International Postage Meter Stamp Catalog/Libya

Libya 3 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”. blue GROUP A: Issues of the UNITED KINGDOM OF LIBYA, 1959 to 1969 3 blue Crown at top of frank left|370px A1. Universal “MultiValue” (MV), 1959. 12px[$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: 12px0ooo left|375px A2. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV), 1962. 12px[$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: 12px=000 left|390px A3. Universal “Multi-Value” (MV). 12px[$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: 12px0ooo left|375px A4. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV), 1966. 12px[$10] Very similar to Type A3 but M# with “P.B.” prefix. Value figures are of uniform thickness. TM: DC V/F: 12px=000 blue GROUP B: Issues of the LIBYAN ARAB REPUBLIC, 1969 to 1977 left|370px B1. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV). 12px[$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: 12px=000 left|380px B2. Pitney Bowes (GB) “MultiValue” (MV). 12px[$10] Arabic inscriptions at top and sides, “L.A.R.” at bottom. M# in Arabic breaks bottom frame line. TM: DC V/F: 12px0ooo 343px|left B3. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV). 12px[$5] Nearly identical to Type B2 but value figures are of uniform thickness. TM: DC V/F: 12px=000 left|375px B4. Hasler “F88” (MV). 12px[$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: 12px0,ooo blue GROUP C: Issues of the SOCIALIST PEOPLE’S LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA, 1977 to 2011 left|375px C1. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV), 1983. As Type B2 but inscribed “JAMAHIRYA” at bottom. M# breaks bottom frame lines. TM: DC V/F: 12px=000 left|280px 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: 12px12px000 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. left|400px C3. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV). Large square frank with straight-line border. Inscribed “JAMAHIRYA” in panel at bottom. TM: DC V/F: 12px=000 NOTE: Only one example seen, and it has the frank frame inverted. left|280px 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: 12px=000 green 3 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.