Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 2

SOMALIA

Benadir - Italian Somaliland - Somalie Italienne

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the catalogue;
contact me if you want to purchase it.

1903 Elephant or lion, inscription "POSTE ITALIANE BENADIR"

value in besa or anna

  1 b brown (elephant)
  2 b green (elephant)
  1 a red (lion)
  2 a orange (lion)
  2 1/2 a blue (lion)
  5 a yellow (lion)
  10 a lilac (lion)

These stamps have perforation 14 and watermark 'Crown'.

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1 b	***	***
2 b	***	***
1 a	***	***
2 a	R	R
2 1/2 a	***	***
5 a	R	R
10 a	***	***

Surcharged with c(entesimi) or lira

  bars on 2 c on 1 b brown
  2 c on 1 b brown
  5 c on 2 b green
  10 c on 1 a red
  15 c on 2 a yellow
  'Centesimi 15' on 5 a orange
  20 c on 2 a orange
  25 c on 2 1/2 a blue
  '40 Centesimi' on 10 a lilac
  50 c on 5 a yellow
  '1 LIRA 1' on 10 a lilac

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
bars on 2 c on 1 c	c	c
2 c on 1 c	vc	vc
5 c on 2 b	c	c
10 c on 1 a	*	*
15 c on 2 a	*	*
15 c on 5 a	RRR	RRR
20 c on 2 a	*	*
25 c on 2 1/2 a	*	*
40 c on 10 a	RR	R
50 c on 5 a	**	**
1 L on 10 a	**	**

Double surcharged

  5 c on 50 c on 5 a orange
  20 c on 1 L on 10 a lilac

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 c on 50 c on 5 a	***	***	Old value cancelled with three lines
20 c on 1 L on 10 a	**	**	Old value cancelled with a line

Double surcharged (second surcharge in BESA, 1922-1923)

'6' and bars on 5 c on 2 b green '18 BESA 18' and bars on 10 c on 1 a red '20 BESA 20' on 15 c on 2 a orange

  '2' and bars on 2 c on 1 b brown
  '3' and bars on 2 c on 1 b brown
  '3 3' on 5 c on 2 b green
  '5 BESA 5' and bars on 50 c on 5 a yellow
  '6 BESA' on 10 c on 1 a red
  '6 6' and bars on 5 c on 2 b green
  '9 BESA' on 15 c on 2 a orange
  '15 BESA' on 25 c on 2 1/2 a blue
  '18 BESA 18' and bars on 10 c on 1 a red
  '20 BESA 20' on 15 c on 2 a orange
  '25 BESA 25' on 15 c on 2 a orange
  '30 BESA 30' on 25 c on 2 1/2 a blue
  '30 BESA' on 50 c on 5 a yellow
  '60 BESA' on 1 L on 10 a lilac
  '60 BESA 60' and bars on 1 L on 10 a lilac
  '1 RUPIA 1' on 1 L on 10 a lilac

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
2 on 2 c on 1 b	c	c	1923
3 on 2 c on 1 b	c	*	1923
3 b on 5 c on 2 b	c	*	1922
5 b on 50 c on 5 a	*	*	1923
6 b on 10 c on 1 a	*	*	1922
6 on 5 c on 2 b	*	*	1923
9 b on 15 c on 2 a	*	*	1922
15 b on 25 c on 2 1/2 a	*	*	1922
18 b on 10 c on 1 a	*	*	1923
20 b on 15 c on 2 a	**	**	1923
25 b on 15 c on 2 a	**	**	1923
30 b on 25 c on 2 1/2 a	**	**	1923
30 b on 50 c on 5 a	**	**	1922
'60 BESA' on 1 L on 10 a	***	***	1922
'60 BESA 60' and bars on 1 L on 10 a	***	***	1923
1 R on 1 L on 10 a	***	***	1923

Surcharged stamps with bars through surcharge (1926)

  2 c on 1 b brown
  5 c on 2 b green
  10 c on 1 a red
  15 c on 2 a orange
  20 c on 2 a orange
  25 c on 2 1/2 a blue
  50 c on 5 a orange
  1 L on 10 a lilac

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
2 c on 1 b	c	c
5 c on 2 b	c	c
10 c on 1 a	c	c
15 c on 2 a	c	*
20 c on 2 a	*	*
25 c on 2 1/2 a	*	*
50 c on 5 a	*	*
1 L on 10 a	*	*

Stamps with overprint 'Marca Bollo' are fiscal stamps. I have seen this overprint on "25 BESA 25" on 15 c on 2 a orange.

When the stamps were first introduced, apparently no post office existed in Benadir. Source: The Philatelic Record 1902, page 96: they were intended to be sold to stamp collectors "..... and they would form a source of certain revenue to the Societe at the expense of the numerous collectors of stamps, who would not fail to secure a philatelic novelty.". The Societe is the 'Societié Anonyme de Benadir'.

1916 Red Cross (Croce Rossa) stamps of Italy of 1915-1916, overprinted "SOMALIA"

  10 + 5 c red
  15 + 5 c grey
  20 + 5 c orange
  20 on 15 + 5 c grey

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
10 + 5 c	*	*
15 + 5 c	*	*
20 + 5 c	*	*
20 on 15 + 5 c	*	*

1922 Stamps of Italy of 1921 (Victory issue), overprinted "SOMALIA ITALIANA" and surcharged in "BESA"

  3 b on 5 c green
  6 b on 10 c red
  9 b on 15 c grey
  15 b on 25 c blue

1923 Stamps of Italy, overprinted "SOMALIA ITALIANA" and surcharged in "besa"

  6 b on 20 c olive and brown
  13 b on 30 c red and brown
  20 b on 50 c violet and brown
  30 b on 1 L blue and brown

1923 Stamps of Italy, overprinted "SOMALIA ITALIANA" in two lines and surcharged in "BESA"

  3 b on 10 c green (red overprint)
  13 b on 30 c violet (red overprint)
  20 b on 50 c red
  30 b on 1 L blue
  1 R on 2 L brown
  3 R on 5 L black and blue (red overprint)

1924 Stamps of Italy (Manzoni issue), overprinted "SOMALIA ITALIANA" and surchraged in "besa"

  6 b on 10 c red and black
  9 b on 15 c green and black
  13 b on 30 c black and grey
  20 b on 50 c brown and black
  30 b on 1 L blue and black
  3 R on 5 L violet and black

1925 Stamps of Italy (Anno Santo) of Italy, overprinted "SOMALIA ITALIANA" and surcharged in "besa"

  6 b + 3 b on 20 c + 10 c blue and brown
  13 b + 6 b on 30 c + 15 c brown and light brown
  15 b + 8 b on 50 c + 25 c violet and brown
  18 b + 9 b on 60 c + 30 c red and brown 
  30 b + 15 b on 1 L + 50 c blue and brown (red overprint)
  1 R + 50 b on 5 L + 2.50 L red and brown (red overprint)

1925 King's jubilee stamps of Italy, overprinted "SOMALIA ITALIANA"

  60 c red
  1 L blue
  1.25 L blue (1926)

1926 St. Francis of Assisi issue of Italy, overprinted "SOMALIA ITALIANA"

  20 c green
  40 c violet
  60 c red

1926 Standing woman representing Italy with sword and spade, inscription "SOMALIA ITAL. ISTITUTO COLONIALE ITALIANO"

  5 c + 5 c brown
  10 c + 5 c olive
  20 c + 5 c green
  40 c + 5 c red
  60 c + 5 c orange
  1 L + 5 c blue

A similar stamp for Tripolitania, Eritrea also issued similar stamps.

1926 Victor Emannel III stamps of Italy, overprinted "SOMALIA ITALIANA"

  5 c green (1927)
  7 1/2 c brown (1928)
  10 c red (1927)
  20 c brown (1927)
  25 c green (1927)
  30 c black (1930)
  50 c brown and black (1928)
  50 c violet (1930)
  60 c red (1927)
  75 c red
  1 L brown and green (1927)
  1.25 L blue
  1.75 L brown (1928)
  2.50 L blue and red
  5 L blue and red
  10 L black and red

1927 Stamp of 1901 of Italy, overprinted "SOMALIA ITALIANA"

  2 c red-brown

1927 Stamps of Italy of 1926, inscription "PRO OPERA PREVIDENZA M.V.S.N.", overprinted "SOMALIA ITALIANA" and partly changed colours

Reduced sizes

  40 c + 20 c brown and black (castle of St.Angelo)
  60 c + 30 c red and brown (aquaduct of Claudius)
  1.25 L + 60 c blue and black (Capitol with Forum Romanum)
  5 L + 2.50 L green and black (Porta del Popolo)

Changed values and colours (1928)
  30 c + 10 c red and black
  50 c + 20 c lilac and black (red overprint)
  1.25 L + 50 c brown and blue (red overprint)
  5 L + 2 L olive and black (red overprint)

Changed values and colours (1930)
  30 c + 10 c green (two shades on one stamp) 
  50 c + 10 c green and lilac (red overprint)
  1.25 L + 30 c brown and red-brown (red overprint)
  5 L + 1.50 L blue and green (red overprint)

1927 Allesandro Volta stamps of Italy (in other colours), overprinted "Somalia Italiana"

  20 c violet
  50 c orange
  1.25 L blue

1928 40 year existence of African society

  20 c + 5 c green
  30 c + 5 c red
  50 c + 10 c violet
  1.25 L + 20 c blue

1929 1400 anniversary of Abbey of Montecassino stamps of Italy, inscription "Centenario Monte Cassino", overprinted "SOMALIA ITALIANA" or "Somalia Italiana" (10 L)

  20 c green (red overprint)
  25 c orange (blue overprint)
  50 c + 10 c red (blue overprint)
  75 c + 15 c brown (red overprint)
  1.25 L + 25 c lilac (design as 20 c, red overprint)
  5 L + 1 L blue (design as 75 c, red overprint)
  10 L + 2 L brown (red overprint)

1930 Marriage of Prince Umberto and Princess Maria Jose stamps of Italy in changed colours, overprinted "SOMALIA ITALIANA"

  20 c green
  50 c + 10 c orange
  1.25 L + 25 c red

1930 400 years death of Ferrucci stamps of Italy, in different colours, overprinted "SOMALIA ITALIANA"

  20 c violet (red overprint)
  25 c green (red overprint)
  50 c black (red overprint)
  1.25 L blue (red overprint)
  5 L + 2 L red (blue overprint)

1930 25 years existence of Italian Colonial Agriculture Institute

  50 c + 20 c brown
  1.25 L + 20 c blue
  1.75 L + 20 c green
  2.55 L + 50 c violet
  5 L + 1 L red

1930 2000 years birth commemoration of Virgil stamps of Italy (various designs with similar frame) in different colours and with overprint "SOMALIA"

  15 c violet (red overprint)
  20 c brown (blue overprint)
  25 c green (red overprint)
  30 c brown (blue overprint)
  50 c lilac (red overprint)
  75 c red (blue overprint)
  1.25 L blue (red overprint)
  5 L + 1.50 L lilac (red overprint)
  10 L + 2.50 L brown (blue overprint)

1931 700 years death of Antonius of Padua stamps of Italy (various designs) in partly different colours, with overprint "SOMALIA" or "Somalia"

  20 c brown ('SOMALIA' blue)
  25 c green ('SOMALIA' red)
  30 c brown ('SOMALIA' blue)
  50 c violet ('SOMALIA' blue)
  75 c black ('Somalia' red)
  1.25 L blue ('SOMALIA' red)
  5 L + 2.50 L brown ('Somalia' blue)

1931 Stamps of the Italy Imperial issue of 1929, overprinted "SOMALIA ITALIANA"

  25 c green (red overprint)
  50 c violet (red overprint)

1932 Various designs, inscription "POSTE ITALIANE SOMALIA"

  5 c brown (lighthouse)
  7 1/2 c violet (design as 5 c)
  10 c black (design as 5 c)
  15 c olive (design as 5 c)
  20 c red (tower)
  25 c green (design as 20 c)
  30 c brown (design as 20 c)
  35 c blue (government building in Mogadiscu)
  50 c violet (design as 35 c)
  75 c red (design as 35 c)
  1.25 L blue (termite hill with man)
  2.75 L orange (design as 1.25 L)
  2 L red (design as 1.25 L)
  2.55 L blue (bird)
  5 L red (design as 2.55 L)
  10 L violet (hyppopotamus)
  20 L green
  25 L blue

Overprinted "ONORANZE AL DUCA DEGLI ABBRUZZI" and colours changed
  10 c brown
  25 c green (red overprint)
  50 c violet 
  1.25 L bue (red overprint)
  5 L violet (red overprint)
  10 L red
  20 L blue (red overprint)
  25 L green (red overprint)

Some values were re-issued in 1950, but now with inscription "SOMALIA" on top: 1 c black (tower), 5 c red (bird), 6 c violet (building), 8 c green (tower), 10 c green (building), 20 c blue (bird), 35 c red (tower), 55 c blue (building), 60 c violet (bird), 65 c brown (tower) and 1 S red (building).

1934 International art exhibition in Naples, large sized stamps

Woman with child
  5 c green
  10 c brown
  20 c red
  50 c violet
  60 c red-brown
  1.25 L blue

Airmail, river scene and earoplane
  25 c blue and red
  50 c green
  75 c brown and red

Airmail, leopard watching aeroplane
  80 c brown
  1 L red
  2 L blue

1934 King Victor Emanuel III in a coin, inscription "R.R. POSTE COLONIALI SOMALIA POSTA AEREA ROMA - MOGADISCIO 1934 A.XIII"

  25 c + 10 c olive
  50 c + 10 c brown
  75 c + 15 c red
  80 c + 15 c brown
  1 L + 20 c brown
  2 L + 20 c blue
  3 L + 25 c violet
  5 L + 25 c orange
  10 L + 30 c lilac
  25 L + 2 L green

1935 Commemoration of the visit of the King

King standing

  7 1/2 c + 7 1/2 c violet
  15 c + 10 c black
  20 c + 10 c red
  25 c + 10 c green
  30 c + 10 c brown
  50 c + 10 c violet
  75 c + 15 c red
  1.25 L + 15 c blue
  1.75 L + 25 c orange
  2.75 L + 25 c blue
  5 L + 1 L red
  10 L + 1.80 L brown

King on horse (larger size)

  25 L + 2.75 L brown and red-brown

1936 Airmail, inscription "SOMALIA ITALIANA POSTA AEREA"

  25 c green (palm tree and aeroplane)
  50 c brown (woman in field with aeroplane)
  60 c orange (aeroplane over trees)
  75 c brown
  1 L blue (child watching aeroplane)
  1.50 L violet (design as 25 c)
  2 L grey (design as 50 c)
  3 L red (design as 1 L)
  5 L green (design as 60 c)

Parcel Stamps

Parcel post stamps consist of two parts, one for the parcel and one for the receipt (cancelled specimens should always be separated!). The first parcel stamps for Somalia were issued in 1920, by overprinting parcel stamps of Italy with "SOMALIA ITALIANA".

1920 Parcel stamps of Italy of 1914, overprinted "SOMALIA ITALIANA" on each half

Unused specimen, two parts still together

  5 c brown (black or red overprint)
  10 c blue (black or red overprint)
  20 c black (black or red overprint)
  25 c red (black or red overprint)
  50 c orange (black or red overprint)
  1 L violet (black or red overprint)
  2 L green (black or red overprint)
  3 L yellow (black or red overprint)
  4 L black (black or red overprint)
  10 L lilac (black or red overprint)
  12 L brown (black or red overprint)
  15 L grey (black or red overprint)
  20 L lilac (black or red overprint)

The red overprints were issued in 1926 (the overprint is of a slightly different type). The values 10 L to 20 L were issued in 1926.

Surcharged 'BESA' or 'RUPIE' on left part (except 3 B on 5 c)
and 'BESA' or 'RUPIE' with value on right part (1923)

  3 B on 5 c brown (value on left side as well)
  5 B on 5 c brown
  10 B on 10 c blue
  25 B on 25 c red
  50 B on 50 c orange
  1 R on 1 L violet
  2 R on 2 L green
  3 R on 3 L yellow
  4 R on 4 L black

1922 Parcel stamps of Italy of 1914, overprinted "SOMALIA" on each half

  25 c red
  50 c orange
  1 L violet
  2 L green
  3 L yellow
  4 L black

1930 Parcel stamps of Italy of 1927, overprinted "SOMALIA ITALIANA" on each half

  5 c brown (red or black overprint)
  10 c blue
  25 c red (1931)
  30 c blue
  50 c yellow (1931)
  60 c red
  1 L violet (1931)
  2 L green (1931)
  3 L light brown (red or black overprint)
  4 L grey (red or black overprint)
  10 L lilac (1935)
  20 L lilac (1934)

1950 Moon and star instead of arms of Italy, inscription "PACCHI POSTALI SUL BOLLETTINO SULLA RICEVUTA", no country name indicated

  1 c lilac
  3 c violet
  5 c lilac
  10 c orange
  20 c brown
  50 c green
  1 Somalo violet
  2 Somali brown
  3 Somali blue

Postage Due stamps

1906 Postage due stamps of Italy, overprinted "Somalia Italiana Meridionale"

  5 c orange and red
  10 c orange and red
  20 c orange and red
  30 c orange and red
  40 c orange and red
  50 c orange and red
  60 c orange and red
  1 L blue and red
  2 L blue and red
  5 L blue and red
  10 L blue and red

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 c	*	*
10 c	R	***
20 c	***	***
30 c	*	*
40 c	***	***
50 c	***	***
60 c	***	***
1 L	RRR	RRR
2 L	RRR	RRR
5 L	RRR	RRR
10 L	RRR	RRR

1909 Postage due stamps of Italy, overprinted "Somalia Italiana"

  5 c orange and red
  10 c orange and red
  20 c orange and red
  30 c orange and red
  40 c orange and red
  50 c orange and red
  60 c orange and red
  1 L blue and red
  2 L blue and red
  5 L blue and red
  10 L blue and red

A small amount of stamps was overprinted at the bottom (instead of the usual overprint at the top) in 1920.

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 c	c	*
10 c	*	*
20 c	*	*
30 c	*	*
40 c	**	**
50 c	**	**
60 c	**	**
1 L	***	***
2 L	***	***
5 L	R	R
10 L	***	***

1923 As postage due stamps of Italy, but with inscription "Somalie Italiana" and value in Besa or Rupie

  1 B on 5 c orange
  2 B on 10 c orange
  3 B on 20 c orange
  5 B on 30 c orange
  10 B on 40 c orange
  20 B on 50 c orange
  40 B on 60 c orange
  1 R on 1 L blue

1926 As postage due stamps of Italy, but with overprint "Somalia Italiana" and value in black

  5 c orange and black
  10 c orange and black
  20 c orange and black
  30 c orange and black
  40 c orange and black
  50 c orange and black
  60 c orange and black
  1 L blue and black
  2 L blue and black
  5 L blue and black
  10 L blue and black

1934 Postage due stamps of Italy of 1934, overprinted "SOMALIA ITALIANA"

  5 c brown
  10 c blue
  20 c red
  25 c green
  30 c orange
  40 c black
  50 c violet
  60 c blue

Slightly different design
  1 L orange
  2 L green
  5 L violet
  10 L blue
  20 L red

Later issue, the following values exist: 1 c violet, 2 c blue, 5 c blue, 10 c lilac, 40 c violet, 1 S brown

OLTRE GIUBA

Outre-Juba

Oltre Giuba (or Jubaland or Djubaland) issued stamps from 1925 onwards. It is located west of the Juba River in East Africa. Oltre Giuba was ceded by Great Britain to Italy in 1924. In 1926 it was incorporated with Italian Somaliland (Somalia). In 1936 it joined Italian East Africa.

1925 Stamps of Italy of 1901-1925 overprinted "OLTRE GIUBA" (small)

1925 issue

  1 c brown
  2 c brown
  5 c green
  10 c red
  15 c black
  20 c orange
  25 c blue
  30 c brown
  40 c brown
  50 c violet
  60 c red
  1 L green and brown
  2 L green and orange
  5 L blue and red
  10 L black and red

1925 Stamps of Italy, overprinted "OLTRE GIUBA" (larger size)

  20 c green
  30 c black
  75 c red
  1.25 L blue
  2.50 L green and orange

1925 King's jubilee stamps of Italy, overprinted "OLTRE GIUBA"

  60 c red
  1 L blue
  1.25 L blue

1926 St. Francis of Assisi issue of Italy, overprinted "OLTRE GIUBA" or "Oltre Giuba" (1.25 L and 5 L+2.50 L)

  20 c green
  40 c violet
  60 c red
  1.25 L blue 
  5 L + 2.50 L

1926 Map of Oltre Giuba, inscription "COMMISSARIATO GENLE DELL OLTRE GIUBA"

  5 c orange
  20 c blue
  25 c brown
  40 c red
  60 c lilac
  1 L blue
  2 L grey

1926 Inscription "OLTRE GIUBA" woman (similar to Somalia issue of 1926)

  5 c + 5 c brown
  10 c + 5 c grey
  20 c + 5 c green
  40 c + 5 c red
  60 c + 5 c orange
  1 L + 5 c blue

Oltre Giuba stopped issuing stamps in 1927 when it was joined to Somalia.

Oltre Giuba also issued two Express stamps (overprinted express stamps of Italy: 70 c red, 2.50 L blue and red).

Furthermore 10 postage due stamps of Italy of 1870 were overprinted with "OLTRE GIUBA" (5 c, 10 c, 20 c, 30 c, 40 c, 50 c, 60 c, 1 L, 2 L and 5 L) and were issued in 1925.

Thirteen parcel stamps of Italy also received this "OLTRE GIUBA" overprint in 1925 (5 c, 10 c, 20 c, 25 c, 50 c, 1 L, 2 L, 3 L, 4 L, 10 L, 12 L, 15 L and 20 L).

Finally six mandate stamps of Italy received the "OLTRE GIUBA" overprint in 1924 (20 c, 40 c, 50 c, 1 L, 2 L and 3 L).