Libya

Libya is a country on the Mediterranean Sea between Egypt and Algeria.

Italian colony

 * As part of the Ottoman Empire, Italy invaded Libya in 1911. Beginning in 1912, Italian stamps were overprinted Libia.
 * In 1921, pictorials were issued with additional inscription COLONIE ITALIANE POSTE in two different perfs.
 * In 1923, separate issues were created for Cyrenaica and Tripolitania provinces. See: Cyrenaica, Tripolitania.
 * In 1924, a new set of pictorials was released with some values also in perf 11.
 * Beginning in 1934, 3 issues were released only inscribed TRIPOLI. At this time, Cyrenaica, Tripolitania and Fezzan were politically merged into Libya.





Allied occupation

 * In World War II, in 1943, Libya was occupied by the Allies. Fezzan province was occupied by France, Cyrenaica and Tripolitania provinces was occupied by Great Britain. See: Fezzan, M.E.F.





Kingdom

 * Provisional issues were surcharged LIBYA and in arabic in 1951 for each of the provinces, since each was using different currencies.
 * In 1952, definitives showing King Idris were issued, inscribed KINGDOM OF LIBYA.
 * In 1956, the El Senussi memorial issue was inscribed LIBYE.
 * Beginning in December 1956, stamps were inscribed in arabic only or with UNITED KINGDOM OF LIBYA.
 * Beginning in 1961, some stamps were inscribed just LIBYA.





Libyan Arab Republic

 * In 1961, The Libyan Arab Republic was established. From that time, stamps were inscribed L.A.R, LAR or in arabic script only. "LAR" sometimes appeared only in tiny lettering.
 * Beginning in 1977, stamps were inscribed SOCIALIST PEOPLE'S LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA.



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