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Libya

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 24 December 1951.

CURRENCY
Until 1950, Italian.
After 1950, 1000 milliemes = 1 Libyan pound.

A former vilayet of Turkey, captured by and ceded to Italy on 18 October 1912. Divided into two colonies from 26 June 1927 to 3 December 1934. Fought over in 1940-3, then under British military occupation until 1951. Independent 24 December 1951 (kingdom). Renamed Libyan Arab Republic in 1969 and Libyan Arab People's Republic in 1976.

Italian POs
Tripoli opened January 1869.

FIRST STAMPS Italy from 1874.
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED December 1909.

Used general issues for Italian POs abroad from 1 January 1874. Used stamps of Italian POs in the Turkish Empire from 1 June 1908.

Benghazi opened 15 March 1901.

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED July 1901.

Libya (Italian colony)

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED December 1912.

Commemorative stamps for the two constituent parts (Tripolitania and Cyrenaica) were issued (concurrently with the general issues) before the official division and continued in use after the reamalgamation.

Tripolitania

FIRST STAMPS 24 October 1923.

CURRENCY
1923, as Italy.

Cyrenaica

FIRST STAMPS 24 October 1923.

CURRENCY
1923, as Italy.
1950, 1000 mils = £1.

Stamps also issued 16 January 1950-23 December 1951 during short period of autonomy.

Both parts used stamps of Britain overprinted M.E.F. in 1943-8.

Both parts used stamps of Britain overprinted B.M.A. TRIPOLITANIA from 1 July 1948 (B.A. TRIPOLITANIA for Tripolitania only 6 February 1950- December 1951).

Fezzan

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 16 May 1943.

CURRENCY
French 960 fr = 1 Libyan pound.

Captured by Free French forces of Chad, 16 January 1943; under French military administration to 1951.
Used stamps of Algeria 1943-6.

Ghadames

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 12 April 1949.

CURRENCY
1949, as France.

Both Fezzan and Ghadames became part of Libya on 24 December 1951.

Libya (Independent)
Stamps inscribed in Arabic with or without the addition of L.A.R.

North West Africa 1919
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