Hard to believe, but the Algerian 2025 stamps represent the 5th year of exploring Algeria. During the past half decade, I’ve discovered some excellent artists and designers, but am still stymied in my research into them. They seem to be a shy lot. But, after so many stamps, I feel much more comfortable writing about the country. I’ve sourced some strong Algerian sites that shed light onto cultural and historical moments that, as a North American, are often missing in our news coverage. Stamps are great, aren’t they? 

Last year, Algerian post issued a number of interesting stamps, but in retrospect, their celebration of arts education seems to be the most timely. With so many tech bros pushing to do away with the arts and personal creativity, Algeria chose to highlight the “need to strengthen arts education in schools to make it a breeding ground for the education of talents, promoting their development at the national level in various fields in order to orient them towards a real artistic industry”. Bachelor’s Degree in Arts 2024 – Algeria Post (poste.dz) Designer Zakaria Medjaour pulled together so many elements of the arts, it was fun to examine. 

Algeria is one of those countries that excels in creating info brochures for each stamp. For a collector, they make good companion pieces for an album, especially if you can’t afford a stamp catalogue. Algerian 2025 stamps kicked off the year with a beautifully constructed one for the Amazigh Literature and Language Prizes. 

Written in three languages, with extra info details included, its a nice bonus. I’m playing around with the idea of including the info sheets, but haven’t decided. Guess we’ll find out when the stamps start rolling in. 

Enjoy your trip to Algeria.
Catpaw

January

Fifth Edition of the President of the Republic’s Prize for Amazigh Literature and Language

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset

The prize has four categories: 

• Non-Material Amazigh Cultural Heritage Research
• Technological Sciences and Digital Innovation
• Linguistics
• Amazigh Literature and Translated Works

This year’s winners:

No first prize was awarded in the Linguistics, 2nd and 3rd prizes went to:

Second prize: Naima Hamdi (Béjaïa)
Third prize: Ferkanis Elias (Béjaïa)

Amazigh Literature and Translations:

First prize: Farhat Amr Ouchaban (Tizi Ouzou)
Second prize: Tegourabet Rachida (Tizi Ouzou)
Third prize: Houssam Haddad (Batna)

Non-Material Amazigh Cultural Heritage Research saw no award for 2nd prize:

First prize: Bezza Abdelnasser (Batna)
Third prize: Mohamed Mouloud El Wass (Tamanrasset)

For Technological Sciences and Digital Innovation, no 1st or 3rd was awarded:

Second prize: Belkhraz Abdelrazak (Béjaïa)

Winners of President’s Prize for Amazigh Literature Honored

Designer: High Commission for Amazighity

Release date: January 14, 2025 

School Sports

 3 stamps, FDC, cancel
offset

This stamp is part of the Algerian government’s new program to encourage Physical Education and Sports within schools. 

Designer: not listed

 Release date: January 14, 2025

February

World Safer Internet Day – Together for a Better Internet

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset

This stamp is part of an international campaign to promote the idea of creating a less hostile environment on the internet. It began as a EUROPA initiative in 2005 with their Safe Borders initiative. 

Designer: Tahar Boukeroui
Boukeroui is a familiar name in Algerian stamp design.  His works date to as early as his 1975 National Network Of Satellite Telecomunications 3 stamp set. 

Release date: February 13th, 2025 

March

Women and Modern Technology

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset

… modern technologies have enabled women to overcome many obstacles that once stood in their way, providing them with the opportunity to achieve their personal fulfillment and actively participate in building the future Women and Modern Technology – Algeria Post

Algeria post designed a beautiful pdf info sheet that included artwork from the stamp. Here’s the top of it. Whoever the artist is, should have been given credit. 

Drawing: Ministry of Post and Telecommunications

Release date: March 10, 2025

The Arab League: Eighty Years of Joint Arab Action

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset

Drawing: The Arab League

Release date: March 24, 2025 

Women’s Ceremonial Outfits of the Eastern Region of Algeria

3 stamps, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
offset

In December 2024, UNESCO declared these types of dress as part of their Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognises the “cultural achievement and constitutes a global recognition of the historical and artistic value of the Algerian women’s traditional costume”. The women’s ceremonial costume in the Eastern region of Algeria: knowledge and skills associated with the making and adornment of the ‘Gandoura’ and the ‘Melehfa’ – UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

From Algeria Post’s website: 

The Caftan: The Algerian Qadi Caftan is one of the oldest traditional costumes in the city of Constantine. It reflects the excellence and creativity of the famous Constantinian embroidery art, known as Fetla and Mejboud (Tarz). This authentic embroidery, made with meticulous precision by Constantine craftsmen, is distinguished by its refined patterns and sumptuous ornaments.

Originally, the Algerian caftan was a masculine garment worn by judges and high dignitaries of the state. Over time, Algerian women have appropriated it by adapting it to their femininity and elegance, making it one of the most emblematic traditional women’s garments.

The kaftan is made from a variety of luxurious fabrics, such as silk, velvet,

short velvet, cotton and wool, giving it an elegant and distinctive appearance combining refinement and comfort.

The Melehfa: It is a loose, draped garment, which was originally unsewn and held at the shoulders by two silver brooches. Excess fabric is folded over the chest backwards, while the waist is belted with a long colored wool rope belt or a silver belt.

The elegance of the Mlehfa is enhanced by traditional accessories. The head is covered with a Ghenur (turban) or veil, and adorned with a Jabin diadem fixed on the forehead. It is often associated with Mechref, large circular earrings decorated with simple geometric engravings, as well as bracelets and rings that enhance the beauty of the arms. The Khalkhal (anklet) is worn to add a touch of charm and grace to the ankles.

The Gandoura: It is a long dress in satin or velvet, embroidered with motifs inspired by nature, whether floral or animal, using techniques such as gold thread (majboud), fetla, tell or decorative embroidery.

Artists:  Zineb Bahri and Yasmina Boukhari

Release date: March 27, 2025 

May

Algerian Digital Platform for the Quran – MAQRAA

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset

This project began April 25, 2020.

The Electronic Maqraa of Algeria was founded on the 1st of Ramadan 1441H, corresponding to April 25, 2020, with the establishment of an electronic platform on the official website of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Wakfs. It brings together more than 100 teachers (men and women) spread over several time slots, allowing learners to correct their recitation and recite what they have memorized.

A year after its launch, an academic Maqraa has been established, where learners are divided into classes and levels, according to approved educational programmes.
The Algerian Digital Platform for the Quran – MAQRAA – Algeria Post

Artwork: Ministry of Religious Affairs and Wakfs

Release date: May 4, 2025 

Ancient Mosques

3 stamps, FDCs, cancel
offset

This set features the 3 mosques. Details courtesy Algeria Post’s website. 

Okba Ibn Nafaa al-Fihri Mosque – Biskra – It was built over the tomb of Okba Ibn Nafaa al-Fihri, after his martyrdom at the Battle of Tahuda in 63 H (682 AD). It is the third oldest mosque in the Maghreb, after the Kairouan Mosque in Tunisia and the Abou al-Mouhadjir Dinar Mosque in Mila, Algeria.

The mosque stands out for its unique and irregular architectural design, measuring 60 meters long and 37 meters wide. It includes a prayer hall surrounded by galleries on three sides, in addition to a place for ablutions and several chambers. The prayer hall itself is irregular, consisting of seven vertical plates intersected by seven cross-aisles parallel to the qibla wall. The pyramidal minaret is 16 meters high. The main gate, known as “Bab Tobna”, is a true work of art, made of cedar wood and inlaid with bronze nails, decorated with arabesque patterns, illustrating the beauty of traditional Islamic art.

Qutub Main Mosque, Yusuf Bin Tashfeen – Tindouf  The mosque was inaugurated on Tuesday, 22 Moharram 1443 AH, corresponding to August 31, 2021. This religious complex is one of the largest religious structures in the region, with a capacity of about 4,200 prayers, making it one of the largest mosques in the wilaya.

The design of the mosque is the work of the late architect Hamoudi Al Nazir, who dedicated many years of his life to this project since 2004. The design is inspired by the Maghreb-Andalusian architectural style, reflecting a historical and cultural fusion between North Africa and Andalusia, which gives the mosque a unique and distinctive architectural identity.

Ibn Saadoun Mosque – Blida: The mosque located in the center of the city of Blida is one of the most important historical and religious monuments of the wilaya. Its construction dates back to the 16th century, and it is named after its founder, Sheikh Ibn Saadoun Bin Mohammad Bin Baba Ali.

The mosque covers an area of about 258 square meters and can accommodate about 800 prayers. It is distinguished by its traditional architectural design, comprising four galleries and five rows of columns, crowned with capitals similar to those of the Bani Hammad Fortress, giving it a unique heritage character.

Designer: Ali Kerbouche
Kerbouche is a prolific designer for Algeria. He has contributed artwork for over 100 stamps for both Algeria and  2 for Serbia. 

Release date: May 15, 2025 

Algerian Cuisine Based on Wild Herbs

3 stamps, FDC, cancel, First Day card
offset

Finally, Algeria returns with a delicious stamp. Once again, Algeria’s post office offers the best write up: 

Wild Purslane with “Dersa”: This is one of the traditional and popular Algerian dishes, prepared with a plant called “wild purslane”, also known as “Bakla” or “Bandraq”. It is a seasonal wild plant with fleshy green leaves, which grows in spring. It is known for its unique flavor and nutritional richness, especially omega-3 and iron.

Wild purslane is usually cooked in olive oil and seasoned with a mixture called “Dersa”, a puree made of garlic, salt and red chilli (sweet and hot), traditionally prepared in a mortar. This dish is served as a main or side dish, especially in rural and inland areas.

Couscous with Milk Thistle (Guernina): This is a traditional seasonal dish made with two ingredients: couscous – an emblematic symbol of Algerian cuisine – and “Guernina”, a wild plant with a sweet taste, even raw. It is also beneficial for health as it is rich in vitamins, including vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium. It is found in abundance in North Africa and the Mediterranean basin, especially in late winter and spring. Algerian families, especially in the central and eastern regions, celebrate spring by preparing this dish.

Guernina, once cleaned of its thorns and cut, is first steamed, then added to a couscous sauce made of onions, chickpeas, spices, and sometimes meat (fresh or dried). The couscous, steamed and drizzled with olive oil, is then topped with this fragrant sauce.

Shakhchoukha with Wild Mallow (Khoubiza): This is a seasonal spring dish that adorns the tables of Algerian families in the interior and highlands. It combines two elements: a type of “chakhchoukha” (crumbled cake) and wild mallow, a plant with semi-circular and serrated leaves, known for its richness in vitamins, minerals, fibers and antioxidant properties.

Mallow leaves are cleaned and cooked in a sauce of olive oil, green onions, garlic, and spices. They are then mixed with the shakshushha, cooked and crumbled beforehand.

Hungry yet? 

Artist: Yasmina Boukhari

Release date: May 26, 2025