Cyrenaica

1930 Scott 42 5l + 2l deep carmine "Francesco Ferrucci"

Overprinted, On stamps of Italy, 1930

Quick History
Cyrenaica , an Italian colony from 1919 -1934, is located on the North African coast on the Mediterranean Sea. The Capital was Bengazi, and the population in 1934 was 225,000.

A 1942 Map of the Italian Mediterranean with Benghazi noted on the north coast of Africa

The first stamps for Cyrenaica and Tripolitania were both issued in 1923 by the Italian government. In 1934, Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, and Fezzan were united as the Italian colony of Libya. The Kingdom of Libya was declared in 1951. Finally, in 1969, the forces of Muammar al-Gaddafi  assumed control.

Map of Libya

Cyrenacia and the Bible: Simon of Cyrene, who the Romans demanded  help carry the cross of Jesus, is supposed to have come from Cyrenaica.

1926 Scott 23 1.25 dark blue "St. Francis' Death"

Overprinted, On stamps of Italy, 1926

Big Blue Picture
Big Blue '97, on four pages, has 93 stamp spaces for regular, semi-postal, and air post stamps. The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue has 137 major descriptions. Coverage by Big Blue is 68%.

Many of the 1923-31 Cyrenaician issues are overprinted Italian stamps. Of Big Blue's coverage, almost all (90 stamps) are less expensive "mint". Prices generally for Cyrenaician stamps are a bit high; usually ranging in the $1+-$10 category. This might explain why I have few Cyrenaician stamps at the moment. :-) There is also a  "most expensive stamp" candidate, the $85 1930 B28 5L+1.50L semi-postal.

Big Blue, though, almost has "perfect" coverage, as I was only able to find only four additional stamps (<$5 CV) that could be added by the collector.

Additionals...

Semi-postal

1925 "Holy Year" issue overprinted

B5,B6,($2+)

1927 (1926 Italian semi-postals overprinted)

B16($2+)

Air post
1932
C4($2+)

1926 Semi-postal Scott B9 20c + 5c blue green 

"Peace, substituting Spade for Sword"

Big Blue Checklist
1923 (1920 Italian "Fascisti issue" overprinted "CIRENAICA")
5,6,7,8,($5+)

1925 Victor Emmanuel Issue overprinted
17,18,(<$1)

1926 St. Francis of Assisi overprinted
20,21,22,23,($2+)

1927 Victor Emmanuael Issue overprinted (continued)
19($2+)

1927 Volta issue overprinted
25,26,27,($5+-$10+)

1929
28($5+)

1929
29,30,31,32($10+),($5+ eN)
eN= except noted

1930 Royal wedding issue overprinted
35,36,37,($1+)

1930 Ferucci issue overprinted
38,39,40,41,($5+)

1930 Virgil issue overprinted
43,44,45,46,($1+)
47,48,49,($1+)

1931 St. Anthony of Padua issue overprinted
52,53,54,55,($1+)
57,56,($1+)

1934 "Carabineer"
59,60,61,62,($2+)
63,64,($2+)

Semi-postal
1925 "Holy Year" issue overprinted
B1,B2,B3,($2+)
Blank space: suggest B4($2+)

1926 Colonial Institute issue 
B7,B8,B9,B10,B11,B12,($1+)

1927 (1926 Italian semi-postals overprinted)
B13,B14,B15,($2+)

1928 "Allegory of Fasicism and Victory"
B17,B18,($2+)

1928 "Allegory of Fasicism and Victory"-continued
B19,B20,($2+)

1929 (1926 Italian semi-postals overprinted)
B21,B22,B23,($2+)

1930 (1926 Italian semi-postals overprinted)
B25,B26,B27,($20+)
B28 5L+1.50L indigo & green ($80+)!

(1930) "sower"
B29,B30,B31,B32,B33,($2+-$5+)

Air Post
1931 (air post stamps of Tripolitania 1931 overprinted)
C1(<$1 used),C2,C3,($2+ eN)

1932 "Arab on Camel"/"Airplane in Flight"
C6(<$1 used),C7,C8,($10+ eN)
C9(<$1 used),C10,C11,($10+ eN)

1933-34 
(Graft Zeppelin issue)
C12($5+)
Type of 1932 overprinted & surcharged "Primo Volo Diretto"
One space: C20 or C21 or C22 or C23($5+) ($2+ eN)
Air Post semi-postal
'King Victor Emmanuel III" (Generic non-denominational illust & blank space)
Two spaces: CB1 or CB2 or CB3 or CB4 or CB5 or CB6($5+)
or CB7 or CB8 or CB9 or CB10 ($20+)

1934 "Transport Plane"/"Venus of Cyrene"
C24,C25,C26,C27,($2+)
C28,C29,($2+)''

1932 Air Post Scott C6 50c purple
"Arab on Camel"

Kinds of Blue
The '97,'69,'47, and '41 editions are all identical in content.

1926 Scott 21 40c dark violet "Monastery of St. Damien"

Overprinted, On stamps of Italy, 1926

Big Blue Bottom Line
There is a lot more to Cyrenacian history then what is outlined in this post. The stamps themselves, almost all mint, are priced a bit on the high side.

Note: Maps, and 1928 image appear to be in the public domain.

If you enjoyed this post, or have some information to share, or have some constructive criticism, please share your thoughts and reactions in the "comment" section.  Thanks!

1928 image of "Littorio Palace", the Cyrenaica Parliament Building in Benghazi