# Libya

* 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”.

## GROUP A: Issues of the UNITED KINGDOM OF LIBYA, 1959 to 1969

* Crown at top of frank
A1. Universal “MultiValue” (MV), 1959. [$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: 0ooo
A2. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV), 1962. [$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: =000
A3. Universal “Multi-Value” (MV). [$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: 0ooo
A4. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV), 1966. [$10]
    Very similar to Type A3 but M# with “P.B.” prefix.
    Value figures are of uniform thickness.
    TM: DC
    V/F: =000

## GROUP B: Issues of the LIBYAN ARAB REPUBLIC, 1969 to 1977

                                                       B1. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV). [$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: =000
                                                       B2. Pitney Bowes (GB) “MultiValue” (MV). [$10]
                                                       Arabic inscriptions at top and sides, “L.A.R.” at bottom.
                                                       M# in Arabic breaks bottom frame line.
                                                       TM: DC
                                                       V/F: 0ooo
                                                       B3. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV). [$5]
                                                       Nearly identical to Type B2 but value figures are of uniform thickness.
                                                       TM: DC
                                                       V/F: =000
                                                       B4. Hasler “F88” (MV). [$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: 0,ooo

## GROUP C: Issues of the SOCIALIST PEOPLE’S LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA, 1977 to 2011

C1. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV), 1983.
    As Type B2 but inscribed “JAMAHIRYA” at bottom.
    M# breaks bottom frame lines.
    TM: DC
    V/F: =000
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: 000
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.
C3. Pitney Bowes (GB) “Automax” (MV).
    Large square frank with straight-line border.
    Inscribed “JAMAHIRYA” in panel at bottom.
    TM: DC
    V/F: =000
NOTE: Only one example seen, and it has the frank frame inverted.
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: =000
In 1932 a meter was used by the Savings Bank of Bengasi. The meter had an Italian frank with town mark reading “BENGASI/ CIRENAICA”.