# Lesotho

* Meter stamps first appear in the British colony of Basutoland around 1956. In 1966 the colony gained independence and changed its name to Lesotho.
* Meter numbers appear on some stamp types and locally assigned License numbers appear on others. In a few cases, both Meter (M#) and License (L#) numbers are present in the same stamp.
* The stamps are grouped by political inscription:
       A - BASUTOLAND
       B – LESOTHO
       C - KINGDOM OF LESOTHO

## GROUP A: Franks containing “BASUTOLAND” and a crown

* In use from 1956 to about 1966
* A1. Universal “Simplex” (LV-25). [$50]
* Upright frank with simulated perforation border.
* “POSTAGE” and “REVENUE” vertical at left and right of value figures.
* Large crown at bottom center.
* M# with “S” prefix in small boxes in lower corners.
* TM: DC
* Values (£sd): 1d through 1/-
* Values (decimal): ½ up
* A2. Pitney Bowes “Automax” (MV). [$50]
* Similar Type A1, but with narrower spacing.
* M# with “UA” prefix.
* TM: DC
* V/F: .00
* A3. Neopost "Frankmaster" / "305" (MV). [$50]
* Frank with double straight-line border.
* M# with “NB” prefix in lower corners without boxes.
* TM: DC
* V/F: 0·00=

## GROUP B: Franks containing “LESOTHO” without crown

* In use from 1966

#### Sub-group BA: Vertical or square frank with simulated perforation outer border

* BA1. Pitney Bowes-GB “Simplex” (LV-25).      [$20]
* As Type A1 but with new country name and no crown.
* M# with “SB” prefix.
* TM: DC
* Values:      ½¢ up
* BA2. Pitney Bowes-GB “Automax” (MV).      [$10]
* As Type A2 but with new country name and no crown.
* M# with “UA” prefix.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      .00= (.00½)
* BA3. Pitney Bowes-GB “Automax” (MV).      [$10]
* Square frank with simulated perforation border.
* “LESOTHO” in top panel. “POSTAGE” and “REVENUE” vertical in side panels.
* M# with “UB” prefix in small boxes in bottom corners.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      0.00      .00 =      0.oo=
* BA3.1. Neopost "205” (MV).      [Scarce, value uncertain]
* Frank slightly taller than wide.
* “LESOTHO” in panels at both top and bottom. “POSTAGE” vertical in both side panels.
* Very narrow spacing between TM and frank.
* M# with “LP” prefix.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      0.00
* BA3.2. Neopost "205” (MV).      [Scarce, value uncertain]
* Frank similar to Type BA3 but “LESOTHO” much smaller.
* Spacing between TM and frank is narrow as with Type BA3.1.
* M# with “NB” prefix.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      0,00
* BA4. Neopost “Electronic” (MV).
* Rectangular frank with single-line simulated perforation border.
* “LESOTHO” at both top and bottom.
* “POSTAGE” stacked at both sides.
* M# with “MR” prefix.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      ≋0,00
* BA5. Neopost “Electronic” (MV).
* Similar to Type BA4 but with “POSTAGE” and “PAID” vertical at sides.
* Frank variable in size from 27-30mm wide and 26-28mm tall.
* A. License number with “L”, "LE", or “LP” prefix
* B. License number without prefix, repeated in both lower corners
* TM: DC
* V/F:      ≋0,00
* BA6. Neopost “Electronic” (MV).
* Similar to Type BA5B but thick frame line as a series of semi-circles rather than simulated perforations.
* L# 36 seen.
* TM: DC
* V/F:      ≋0,00

#### Sub-group BB: Small, horizontal frank with simulated perforation outer border

* BB1. Pitney Bowes-GB “5000” series (MV). [$10]
* “LESOTHO” in top panel.
* M# with “UB” prefix in small boxes below “LESOTHO”.
* “POSTAGE” and “REVENUE” vertical at sides.
* Value figures on lower level than date figures.
* TM: DC
* V/F: 0.00(½)
* BB2. Pitney Bowes-GB “5000” series (MV). [$10]
* Frank with corner ornaments of parallel angle lines.
* TM raised in relation to frank.
* L# with “L” prefix below frank.
* TM: DC
* V/F: ≋0.00
* BB3. Pitney Bowes-GB “6300” (MV). [$10]
* Similar to Type BB2 but L# with “LP” prefix in boxes in lower corners with two parallel lines between.
* TM on same level as frank.
* TM: DC
* V/F: 00.00
* BB4. Satas “Baby” (MV). [$10]
* Frank with inner straight line border.
* Country name boxed.
* M# with ”TX” prefix breaks bottom frame lines.
* TM: BIC
* V/F: 0.00
* BB5. Satas “Baby” (MV).
* As Type BB4 but country name not boxed, and L# with “LP” prefix added at bottom.
* M# with “TX” prefix breaks bottom frame line.
* TM: BIC
* V/F: 0,00
* a. TM inverted, date upright (pictured)

#### Sub-group BC: Frank with straight outer border

* BC1. Neopost “105” (LV-6,-8). [$10]
* Frank with single straight-line border and inner box around value figure.
* “POSTAGE” and “REVENUE” vertical at sides.
* L# with “NB” or “SB” prefix.
* TM: BIC
* Values seen: 1, 3, 5¢
* BC2. Neopost "Frankmaster" / "305" (MV).
* Vertical frank with double frame line.
* Country name at top, “POSTAGE and “REVENUE” vertical at sides.
* L# with “NB” prefix.
* TM: DC
* V/F: 0·00=
* BC3.1. Neopost “405/505” (MV). [$10]
* Horizontal frank with country name boxed at top and repeated in bottom panel.
* Side panels contain stacked “REVENUE” and “POSTAGE”.
* L# with “LP” prefix in lower corners.
* TM: BIC
* V/F: 0,00
* BC3.2. Neopost “405/505” (MV). [$20]
* As Type BC3.1 but simpler design without inner panels.
* "POSTAGE PAID" reads up at both sides.
* L# with “LP” prefix at bottom center.
* TM: DC
* V/F: 0,00
* BC4. Neopost “405/505” (MV). [$5]
* Similar to Type BC2 but horizontal format.
* L# with “NE” prefix in lower corners.
* TM: BIC
* V/F: 0,00
* BC5. Neopost “Electronic” (MV).
* Horizontal frank with single frame line.
* Country name at both top and bottom.
* “POSTAGE” and “PAID” vertical at sides.
* L# with “L” prefix in lower corners.
* TM: DC
* V/F: ≋0,00
* BC6. Unknown (MV).
* Horizontal frank with double frame line.
* Country name at both top and bottom.
* “POSTAGE PAID” vertical at both sides.
* L# with “HTMS” prefix at bottom.
* TM: DC, flattened at bottom
* V/F: 00.00

## GROUP C: Franks containing “KINGDOM OF LESOTHO”

* C1. Postalia "EFS" (MV).
* Large nearly square frank with simulated perforation border.
* “POSTAGE PAID” vertical at both sides.
* "KINGDOM OF LESOTHO" in one line at both top and bottom.
* M# without prefix above bottom inscription.
* TM: SC
* V/F: 0.00