Postage Stamps of Italian Colonies

by Tony Clayton

Tripolitania

Somalia <<-- : -->> Eritrea

Main Index

Manzoni Issue

In 1924 a set was issued to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Death of Manzoni.

In all its variants the top value, the 5 lire, is a very difficult stamp to find. As only 3750 were ever issued for each of the four colonies Eritrea, Somalia, Cyrenaica and Tripolitania, one can understand why.

Only 7500 of the 1 lire were issued.

Tripolitania 1924 Manzoni issue, 1 lire Sassone 15.

Tripolitania 1924 Manzoni issue, 5 lire Sassone 16.

National Defence (Milizia) Issues

In 1927, 1929 and 1930 there were three successive issues of what are known as the Milizia sets. The Colonies had some of the stamps printed in different colours to those of Italy before being overprinted. In all cases the third set is the most scarce, the top value scarcest, and properly used stamps from the colonies are harder to find than mint.

Tripolitania 1927 First Milizia issue, 60 centesimi + 30 centesimi Variety: second A missing leg at right Sassone 40b.

Tripolitania 1930 Third Milizia issue, 5 lire + 1.50 Lire 10,000 issued Sassone 72.

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Stamps of Italian Colonies - Tripolitania / Copyright reserved by the author, Tony Clayton
v2 12th October 2010