Early Stamps of Libya

An Italian post office was established in the North African port of Bengasi in the mid-nineteenth century, with the permission of the Turkish authorities then governing Libya. Ordinary Italian stamps were used, followed by the Levant overprints of 1874. The Italian 25centisimi stamp was overprinted for use in this office in July 1901 and surcharged 1 piastre local currency. It was replaced by the 25c of the 1908 series in December 1911. The post office was temporarily closed during the Italo-Turkish war and subsequently used the stamps of Libya.

The contemporary Italian definitive series, without surcharge in local currency, was overprinted ‘Tripoli de Barberia’ and issued in the Italian post office in December 1908. These stamps were likewise withdrawn in 1912, when the series overprinted for use throughout Libya was introduced.

Following the withdrawal of the Turks from North Africa as a result of the war with Italy, stamps overprinted ‘Libia’ were adopted throughout the country. Upper and lower case lettering was used for the overprints, except in the case of the 15c which was overprinted in capitals. There are two types of the overprint, varying in the shapes of the letters. The 5c is known with the overprint doubled.

The basic 10+5 c stamp was one of a series issued by Italy in 1915 – 1916 to raise funds for the Red Cross war effort. The majority of stamps issued for general use in Libya up to 1942 consisted of Italian stamps either overprinted or inscribed ‘Libia’.