The postal stamp issues of Libya with holograms are the following:

2001 September 1st "32nd Anniversary of September Revolution" : 1 minisheet of 16 stamps, 100 dirhams each, size mm.146x205 + 2 souvenir-sheets, 300 dirhams each, size mm.148x109

      2001

2002 September 1st "33rd Anniversary of September Revolution" : 1 minisheet of 16 stamps, 100 dirhams each, size mm.148x208 + 2 souvenir-sheets, 300 dirhams each, size mm.148x117

      2002

2003 March 2nd "People's Authority Declaration" : 1 minisheet of 6 stamps, 200 dirhams each, size mm.187x118

2004 December 20th : "Khairi Nuri Khaled" : 1 stamp, 500 dirhams, size mm.60x51 in minisheet of 4 stamps, size mm.150x132

   2003             2004

We focus our attention on the three beautifull minisheets issued in 2001, 2002 and 2003. They are realized using the same elaborate printing process. We take as a reference a detail in the 2003 minisheet.

      2003 minisheet under the light + detail

The base for the whole minisheet is a paper having on the surface a glittering silver holographic foil.

1) In some areas the foil is not printed and mantains its original look (glittering silver). E.g. the upper border in the detail. When you move the minisheet the silver foil turns multicolor.

2) In some other areas the foil is printed, but the colour is semi-transparent. So the holographic effect is still visible. E.g. the blue sky in the detail.

3) In some other areas the foil has a totally covering printing obtained with different layers of colours. It was printed first with a totally covering colour (white), then the other colours were printed. In these areas the holographic effect is not present. E.g. the main subjects in the detail (butterflies, flowers, etc.)

As you can understand the realization of this type of stamp is not easy and it is quite expensive. Since the realization of the original design you must take in consideration the visual effects required on the final minisheet.

In 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 the number of postal stamps issues of Libya was limited; not to be compared with years like 1995, 1996, 1998. But we can say that the quality reached was probably the best in all the story of the Libyan Postal Administration.

These minisheets are really "de-luxe philatelic items", masterpieces of the printing technology.

PHILATELICUM

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