World of Stamps: Geir Sør-Reime

With NATO planes attacking forces of Libyan leader , all of a sudden, Libya was on the front of all media. The world was struck by the popular revolts in several Middle East countries from December 2010 onwards. The first country out was Tunisia, and its long-time President, Ben Ali, was ousted from pow- er. The popular victory here was recently celebrated on a set of four Tunisian stamps. Second country out was , where President Mubarak was forced to leave 2011 set of four commemorating office February 11, 2011. popular uprising in Tunisia In parallel, protests also started in Bahrain, Yemen and Libya. The King of Bahrain managed to silence protesters, whereas the situation in Yemen is still tense. Events in Libya have been very dramatic. Although most people probably have heard about Gad- dafi, the eccentric tent dweller who has been leading this country since he overthrew the King in 1969, the country itself is probably not so well-known. In ancient times, what is now Libya was a prov- ince of the Roman Empire after Rome had crushed Carthage and the Punic Left, 1921 Roman Galley (Sc. 26); settlements in Northern right, 1921 Roman legionaire (Sc. 20) Africa. From 642 AD the

Issue 8 - September 2, 2011 - StampNewsOnline.net  area was under Arab control, and from 1551 the area was under the suzerainty of the Turkish sultans. From 1911 onwards, Italy ousted the Turks and gradually gained control over present-day Libya. The area consisted of three provinces: , and . From 1911 until 1927, these were administered together as Italian North Africa, but were then split into two colonies: Italian Tripolitania and Italian Cyrenaica. In 1934, administration was again merged; the colony was now collectively called Libya (Libia in Italian), and consisted of four provinces and a southern military district. During WW II, decisive battles between the Allies and the Axis took place in Libya. In September 1940, Italy launched an invasion attempt on Egypt from Libya. In December 1940, the British started a counter-attack, and pushed the Italians out of most of Cyrenaica. The Germans then came to the as- sistance of the Italians, and pushed the British back and were also pen- etrating into Egypt. One turning point in this campaign was the siege of Tobruk, where the 1941 Hitler and Mus- British in April 1941 solini (Sc. 96) managed to repel the Germans, and the battle of El Alamein (in Egypt), October- November 1942 marked the final defeat of the Axis in North Africa. They left Libya, and both Cyrenaica and Tripolitania came under British military administration. The Free French took over administration of Fezzan from 1943 onwards. 1956 for 1st In 1951, these areas united into the anniversary of . A 1956 stamp clearly admission to shows the three main areas, Cyrenaica, UNO, showing Tripolitania and Fezzan, that were united map of country and the three into Libya. parts of Libya Before Italy took over Libya, Italy had (Sc. 173) operated post offices in (since

Issue 8 - September 2, 2011 - StampNewsOnline.net  March 1901) and Tripoli (since January 1869). In Tripoli, unoverprinted Italian stamps were used 1869-74, when Italian stamps surcharged in Turkish currency were Italian post-of- used. Italian stamps over- Italian post-of- fice in Tripoli, printed “Tripoli di Bar- fice in Benghazi, 1909 (Sc. 1) beria” were issued 1909. 1901 (Sc. 1) In Benghazi, Italian stamps overprinted “BENGASI” and surcharged in Turkish currency were issued 1901-11. When Italy invaded and took over Libya in 1912, Italian stamps overprinted “Libia” or “LIBIA” were is- sued. In 1921, a pictorial series inscribed “LIBIA” was released. A combination of 1916 overprint stamps of Italy overprinted on Italy (Sc. 1) and commemorative stamps 1938 Birth bi- inscribed “LIBIA” continued to be issued up millenary of till May 1941. Emperor Au- Concurrently with gustus (Sc. 77) these general issues for all of Libya, distinct stamps for the two sep- arate colonies of Cyre- naica and Tripolitania were issued from 1923 1937 11th Tripoli Fair onwards. Here also, a (Tripolitania Sc. 69-70 on Libya C30) 1930 Cirena- combination of Italian ica overprint stamps overprinted “CIRE- (Sc. 42) on NAICA” or “TRIPOLITANIA” Italy Ferrucci were issued until 1934-35. issue When the British military administration took over in Cyrenaica and 1943 British stamps overprinted M.E.F. for use also in Libya (British Offices in Africa Sc. 9)

Issue 8 - September 2, 2011 - StampNewsOnline.net  Left to right: 1942 Brit- ish postage-due stamps overprinted M.E.F. (Sc. J1-5); 1948 British stamps overprinted B.M.A. TRIPOLITANIA and surcharged in M.A.L. (Military Authority Lire) (Brit. E. African Forces for use in Tripolitania Sc. 1); 1950 British stamps overprinted B.A. TRIPOLITANIA and surcharged in M.A.L. (Brit. E. African Forces for use in Tripolitania Sc. 12) Tripolitania in 1943, British stamps overprinted “M.E.F.” (Middle East Forces) were introduced (page 3 and above left). In Tripolitania, British stamps overprinted “B.M.A. TRIPOLITANIA” were put on sale in 1948, replaced in 1950 by British stamps over- printed “B.A. TRIPOLI- TANIA”. In Cyrenaica, a kind of autonomous government was in- troduced in 1949, and distinct stamps in- 1950 Autonomous state postage-due (Sc. J1) and regular issue (Sc. 77) scribed “CYRENAICA” were issued in 1950. In the Free French controlled Fezzan area, Italian and

Left to right, 1943 overprint on Italian stamp, with double overprint (Stanley Gibbons #1); 1943 overprint on Libyan stamp, also surcharged (SG #7); 1943 provisional, hand- stamped issue made at Sebha (SG #13); 1943 overprint on Libyan stamp, also surcharged (Sc. 12)

Issue 8 - September 2, 2011 - StampNewsOnline.net  Libyan stamps overprinted “FEZZAN/Occupation Fran- çaise” were issued in May, 1943. A handstamped issue showing a circle inscribed “R.F. – 0,50 / FEZZAN” was also issued. A pictorial issue was introduced in October 1946, inscribed “FEZZAN – GHADAMES”. In 1949, separate

Left to right,, top row first: 1946 joint issue Fez- zan-Ghadames (Sc. 1N14); 1949 series for Fezzan (Sc. 2N6); 1951 series for Fezzan (Sc. 2N22); 1950 semi-postals for Fezzan (Sc. 2NB1, imperforate variety); 1949 air post issue for Ghadames (Sc. 3NC1, im- perf variety) administrations were created for Fezzan and the Ghadames area, and separate pictorial stamps were introduced for both, inscribed with the name of the respective territory and “Territoire militaire” (Military administration). In Fez- zan, a civilian administration was installed 1950, and stamps without the “Territoire militaire” inscription were issued 1950-51. In De- c e m b e r 1 9 5 1 , Cyrenai- ca, Trip- olitania,

1951 Kingdom of Libya provisional issues, left to right: Cyrenaica issue overprinted LIBYA and surcharged in Francs for use in Fezzan (Sc. 118); Cyrenaica issue overprinted LIBYA for use in Cyrenaica (Sc. 131); Cyrenaica issue overprinted LIBYA and surcharged in M.A.L. for use in Tripolitania (Sc. 102-111)

Issue 8 - September 2, 2011 - StampNewsOnline.net  Fezzan and Ghadames united as the Kingdom of Libya. The first issues of the new kingdom consisted of Cyre- naica stamps overprinted “LIBYA” (also in Arabic), for use in Cyrenaica. For use in Tripolitania, these stamps were additionally surcharged in “MAL” (Military Administration Lira), whereas the stamps intended for use in Fezzan were additionally surcharged in Francs. (See page 5.) A definitive issue showing King Idris and denominated in the united Libyan Pounds currency was issued in 1952. Among the commemorative issues made during the first years of independence was a 1956 set for the 1st anniver- sary of Libya’s admission to the UNO (see page 2) and the 1961 set for the 10th anniversary of independence. These first issues were inscribed “United Kingdom of Libya”.

Left to right: 1952 King Idris (Sc. 143); 1961 for 10th anniversary of inde- pendence (Sc. 213); 1955 definitive with emblems of Tripolitania, Cyre- naica and Fezzan and inscribed United Kingdom of Libya (Sc. 164)

The real uniting of the three parts of Libya took place in 1963, and in 1964 two stamps celebrated the 1st anniversary of the union of Libya. An issue echoing current affairs is the 1961 set for the in- auguration of Libya’s first petrol pipeline. 1967 for opening of In 1967, a single Marsa Al Hariga oil stamp commemorat- terminal (Sc. 316) 1968 for open- ed the inauguration ing of Zueitina of the Marsa al Hariga oil terminal, and a oil terminal (Sc. 1968 pair was issued for the inauguration 338)

Issue 8 - September 2, 2011 - StampNewsOnline.net  of the Zueitina oil terminal (see page 6). Stamps in this period were inscribed “LIBYA” or “Kingdom of Libya”. The 1969 overthrow of the kingdom was marked with a set of stamps showing soldiers and olive branch- es and inscribed “L.A.R.” (Libyan Arab Republic). A 1970 set celebrated the 1st anniversary of the Libyan Arab Republic. A 1971 set Left, 1969 Establishment of L.A.R. marked the 1st anniversary (Sc. 366); right, 1971 for 1st an- of the closing of foreign mili- niversary of evacuation of U.S. tary bases in Libya. military bases (Sc. 415) In 1971, Egypt and Libya entered into a federation agreement, which how- ever, did not last long, but a 1972 set marked the 1st anniversary of it. Until 1973, stamps were primar- ily inscribed in Arabic, but also included the “L.A.R.” Left, 1972 1st anniversary of Arab acronym. From then on, the Republics Federation, Sc. 476; right, 1974 for 5th anniversary of stamps had Arabic inscrip- revolution (Sc. 550) tions only, until 1976, when the “L.A.R.” acronym re-appeared. G a d d a f i launched his Liby- an “cultural revolu- tion” in 1973, and in 1977, he pub- lished his “ Book”, both com- Left, 1977 for the “Green Book” (Sc. 707a); m e m o r a t e d o n right, 1983 for 14th anniversary of revolution stamps. Every year, and dedicated to women in the armed forces, the anniversary of probably no other country has so many women in their armed forces (Sc. 1130) the 1969 revolution was marked with stamps, and in 1979, the 10th anni-

Issue 8 - September 2, 2011 - StampNewsOnline.net  versary was celebrated with a large series of stamps. In 2009, the 40th anniversary was marked with three stamps. Several series have also been dedicated to the “Green Book” and the study of it. 1979 for seminar on “Green Book” (Sc. He has also denounced political 834b) parties as “corrupting democracy” and has introduced his “People’s Au- thority”, commemorated regularly on stamp issues since 1981.

Left to right: 1984 with citations from the Green Book (Sc. 1201a) here the citation where Gaddafi claims that the party system aborts democracy; 1982 for the People’s Authority Declaration (Sc. 1010a); 1992 Declaration of People’s Authority (1425)

From 1980 onwards, Libya issued large series of stamps commemorating anti- colonial battles. In 1978, Libyan con- 1980 anti-colonial bat- stitution was changed. tles, here a 1915 battle From 1977 the stamps at Shoghab (Sc. 853a) started to carry the new official name of the country: “Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Ja- mahiriya”, from 1988 altered to “The Great 1977 for 8th Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya”, anniversary of revolution, which have appeared on Libyan stamps and first is- since. sue with new In 1986, a U.S. attack was aimed at Gad- country name dafi, which he survived, and already the (Sc. 690)

Issue 8 - September 2, 2011 - StampNewsOnline.net  1988 set for 2nd anniversary of U.S. attack on Gaddafi (Sc. 1335) same year, stamps were issued to celebrate this. The 2nd anniversary of the attack was marked with a 1988 set of stamps, and the 10th anniversary was also marked with a long set. The 2011 uprising has had its centre in Benghazi in Cyrenaica. Before the NATO bombing of Gaddafi’s forces started, his forces were very close to Benghazi. Now, the opposition is on the offensive again, and have been retak- ing several cities that they had to give up just before the NATO bombing started. It also turns out that Gaddafi has been using free-lancers from other African countries, es- pecially Chad and Niger. It now remains to see what will happen, whether Gaddafi and his friends will continue fighting or give up, or whether the country again will be split into two parts, Tripolitania/Fezzan and Cyrenaica. The opposition against Gaddafi is using the old, 1951 of Libya, whereas Gaddafi in 1977 introduced the plain green flag for the country. Between 1969 and 1972,

Issue 8 - September 2, 2011 - StampNewsOnline.net  Libya used a horizontal tricolor of red, white and black. Between 1972 and 1977, the arms of the Federation of Arab Republics was added in gold on the white strip.

Left to right: 1964 stamp showing 1951-69 Libyan flag as used by the opposition today (Sc. 252); 1970 flag of Libyan Arab Republic 1969-72 (Sc. 391); 1990 for 20th anniversary of evacuation of U.S. bases and showing current green flag (Sc. 1375)

1986 definitive, President Gaddafi, sup- posedly on sale for a few hours, then withdrawn due to the shape of the stars on his uniform, similar to the Jewish six- point star (Scott 1289)

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