Algeria’s annual stamp program is a modest one filled with cultural gems. It’s underrated, but worth collecting, if for no other reason than the beautiful artwork. Last year (2023) was no exception. It produced 3 outstanding series.
The first noteworthy set was a celebration of Algeria’s brassware by Khaled Nacir and Yasmina Bukhari. They produced the two Brassware – Algerian Cultural Heritage stamps that recognised the historical importance of the country’s traditional brassware crafts.
Brassware is a cultural heritage of Algeria inherited from ancestors, which has made families linked to it and who still preserve at home utensils and copper pieces that decorate their homes but are also used in everyday life. Brassware Copper mortar (Mahres) – Algeria Post (poste.dz)
The second stamp was Kasbah of Bejaia by Omar Deradji, part of a 4-stamp set celebrating famous Algerian tourist sites.
Deradji’s stamp focused on the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. The water colour of the gate leading to the market was the strongest of the four.
And finally, the Endangered & Extinct Species pair. Although two stamps were produced, the Seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) by artist Imene Belhadj Moustpha was the outstanding partner of the pair.
I think I like this one so much because the more I learn about Imene, the greater my respect grows for her talents: “My artistic universe allows me to escape from reality. I am a girl who loves to be in her own world. I don’t really like parties and outings. I find myself in my art and I feel good there.” Imene Belhadj Mostefa, “my artistic universe is that of dreams” (lepetitjournal.com). An artist worth following.
Hard to believe I’m entering a fourth year exploring Algerian stamps and artists. I’m now looking forward to seeing familiar names pop up. If you have any details to share, leave a comment or contact me using this form Contact Bitter Grounds – – stamps, espresso & conversation. As well, if you have any scans of First Day Covers, and would like to share them, let me know. I’d love to add them to the page.
Enjoy
Catpaw
January
Algeria at the Security Council 2024-2025
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset
Algeria was voted to serve on the United Natons Security Council for a two-year period. They will serve from January 1st, 2024, to
December 31, 2025
Artist: Amalou Lisa
Release date: January 20th, 2024
On all fronts
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
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Celebrating Algerian customs
Design: General Customs Directorate
Release date: January 28th, 2024
Algerian Pharmaceutical Industry: Innovation and Progress
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset
Designer: Ministry of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production
Release date: February 18th, 2024
March
7th Summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
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There are 12 member countries:
Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.
And 7 observers:
Angola, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mozambique and Peru.
Designer: Algerie Poste
Release date: March 2, 2024
The Civil Protection Toll-Free Number 1021
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset
Designer: General Directorate of Civil Protection
Release date: March 3, 2024
Constitution and Citizenship
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
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The artwork for this stamp was created by the winner of a nation-wide competition. First prize went to Moncef Benzerguine, a student at the El-Moudjahid Dakhmouche Ali middle school in the wilaya of Ouargla. This is a topnotch piece of artwork, and I hope Moncef creates more stamps for us.
Illustrator: Moncef Benzerguine
Release date: March 9, 2024
Moushaf of Algeria in Braille
2 stamps, FDC, cancel
offset
The Algerian government has published the Moushaf in braille, and is making available free to anyone wishing a copy, even outside Algeria.
Designers: Ministry of Religious Affairs and Wakfs
Release date: March 17, 2024
April
Bachelor of Arts 2024
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset
This stamp highlights 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
Release date: April 18, 2024
Desert Ksour Ancient Towns
4 stamps, FDC, cancel
offset
- Ksar de Metlili – Ghardaïa: The palace of Metlili
- Ksar of Kourdane – Laghouat: The palace of Kourdane
- Ksar of Al-Mizane or Taghourfit – Djanet
- Ksar d’Azlouaz – Djanet
Design: Ministry of Culture and Arts
Release date: April 27, 2024
The Algerian Dinar
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset
Sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of the national monetary unit
Designer:
Release date: April 29, 2024
May
Mines
4 stamps, FDC, cancel
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- Gara Djebilet – Tindouf iron mine
- Bled El Hadba – Tébessa phosphate mine
- Zn-Pb mine of Tala Hamza – Oued Amizour – Béjaïa
Photos by Ministry of Energy and Mines
Release date: May 12, 2024
General Census of Agriculture
2 stamps, FDC, cancel
Designer: Ministry of agriculture and rural development
Release date: May 21st, 2024
50th Anniversary of the Arab Parliamentary Union
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset
This Parliamentary Union was created with the aim of consolidating Arab solidarity, debating issues of common interest to member states, drawing up recommendations and taking appropriate decisions, coordinating the efforts of Arab parliaments in international forums. 50th Anniversary of the Arab Parliamentary Union – Algeria Post (poste.dz)
Designer: People’s National Assembly
Release date: May 28, 2024
June
Sixtieth Anniversary of the École Nationale d’Administration
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
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This is a long read, but interesting:
The late Moulay Ahmed Madeghri, known as the “Father of the Algerian Administration”, Algerian politician, born on July 23, 1934. He is from the wilaya of Saïda. He obtained a baccalaureate in 1954, mathematics series, and joined the University of Grenoble in France for one (01) year, before joining the ranks of the Liberation Revolution in the Fifth Region in 1957 with the late President Houari Boumediene. He was known by his revolutionary name, “Si Houcine”.
Immediately after independence, he was appointed first Wali of the wilaya of Tlemcen and then Minister of the Interior in 1962, when he was only 28 years old. He remained 12 years as Minister of the Interior until his death in 1974. He was called the father of the Algerian administration, as he worked to establish the Algerian administration as a fundamental pillar of the state’s identity and development. He is credited with the creation of administrative training centers in all the wilayas of the country. He is also widely recognized for the creation of the École nationale d’administration
In 1970, he inaugurated the Centre for Documentation, Research and Expertise of the École nationale d’administration. In 1973, he supervised the publication of the school’s first magazine (La revue de l’administration algérienne) after writing the preface to the pilot issue.
The National School of Administration has been named after Moulay Ahmed Medeghri since December 10, 2014.
Sixtieth anniversary of the École Nationale d’Administration – Algeria Post (poste.dz)
Designer: National School of Administration
Release date: June 10, 2024
The Stages of Orange Blossom Water Production
4 stamps, FDC, cancel
offset
Stages of production:
- Harvesting the blossoms
- Pre-drying the petals
- Distilling in a still of boiling water over an open fire and the steam is captured.
- Packaging and preserving the filtered water.
I don’t remember how old I was when I opened the kitchen cabinets at home and saw strange, worn-out plastic bottles lined up against the wall, filled with one of Tunisia’s treasures – traditional floral waters.
Typically made by women, the flowers used to make the liquid are harvested in the spring, when flowers are ready to be picked by hand.
The orange blossom (Citrus sinensis) season starts in April and May each year, followed by the rose season. Once the flowers are collected, no time is wasted in proceeding to the next step; the North African heat can fast deplete the flowers of their precious essence. Many, such as the dog rose (rosa canina), need to be handpicked at dawn and immediately sorted for quality, weighed, and distilled.
The steam distillation process for floral water involves extracting suspended essential oils and water-soluble volatile components using a double technique of heating and cooling.
White gold: Why Tunisians love floral waters | Middle East Eye
The White Gold article is an excellent read. It delves into the history of distilled floral waters and how impotant they are. Although the article specifically references Tunisia, the process is much the same in Algeria.
Designer: Abdel Razzaq Bouzid
Release date: June 27, 2024
September
The Early Presidential Elections of September 7, 2024
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset
Design: Independent National Authority of Elections
Release date: September 8, 2024
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