France took control of Lebanon in 1918, and issued stamps for the colony for many years. What France actually acquired in the League of Nations mandate after World War I was the larger colony of Syria, which included what is today the modern country of Lebanon. The French used overprinted stamps especially for Lebanon; Syria-wide overprints were also used within the borders of Lebanon.
Overprints used on French colonial Lebanese stamps
T.E.O.
T.E.O. is the French acronym for Occupied Enemy Territories (Territoires Ennemis Occupes). These overprints appeared on both Republic of France stamps and French stamps used in Turkey. Used inside and outside Lebanon.
O.M.F.
This is the French acronym for French Military Occupation (Occupation Militaire Francaise). These overprints appeared on regular French stamps, and were used both inside and outside Lebanon.
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Syrie-Grand Liban
Overprint using the French names of Syria and Lebanon (the “State of Greater Lebanon”, or Grand Liban). Overprinted onto French stamps and used in Lebanon.
Collecting and buying these stamps
Finding examples of these stamps is generally fairly easily done today, though it depends on precisely what kind of each you are looking for to add to your collection. One obvious approach to take is to get one of each — or even, one of each on a certain color stamp.
Our current selection below changes often — check back to see the latest every day or so.
