23/03/2023
LIBYA 2008 (NOT ISSUED) "Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing/China"
DE-LUXE PROOF. Printed on coated paper, 133x103mm, stamp size 41x57mm. With stamps and signatures of the Libyan Post and the Libyan National Olympic Committee.
In 2008, Dr. Mohamed Moammar Gaddafi, eldest son of the Libyan Leader Moammar Gaddafi, was the chairman of the Libyan Post & Telecommunications Company (Libyan Post) and chairman of the Libyan National Olympic Committee. He planned to have a postal stamp issue celebrating the participation of Libya to the Olympic Games in Beijing/China in August 2008. The design of the stamp was made by Eng. Mohamed Trabelsi and Mr. Khaled Tabbakh, as stated in the official information-sheet of the issue. The stamp was printed in Tunisia and officially issued on August 18, 2008 (1 stamp, face value 1000 dirhams, quantity 50'000)
But, the stamp could not be included in the list of the official Olympic stamp issues as its design was not previously approved by the International Olympic Commitee and the Chinese organizer of the Olympic Games. So, the Libyan Post proposed to issue a second stamp having all the required characteristics and approvals. On October 10th, the Philatelic Department of the I.O.C. in Lausanne/Switzerland, sent a new design, with new texts, having their approval (see additional picture). Proofs of the new stamp were quickly made. But, it was too late and the Libyan Post decided not to print a second issue.
17/03/2023