Algeria

Algeria stamps

P=have O=don’t have it

The beginning date for postal history in Algeria is unclear, but letters sent by Europeans in Algiers go back to 1690. Oran was controlled by Spain during much of the 18th century, and a postal marking is known from 1749.

Regular postal service came in with the French rule in Algeria, initially as a military post established in 1830 in Algiers, which was then opened to civilians in 1835, but still using military handstamps until 1839, after which datestamps with town names became standard. The service expanded into the interior along with French control, with 295 post offices in operation by 1880.

Algerian mail used stamps of France beginning 1 January 1849. Early cancellations were a simple grill similar to French usage, but after 1852 the service switched to a lozenge of dots surrounding a number identifying the post office.

Beginning in 1924, French stamps were overprinted "ALGÉRIE", eventually to total some 32 types over the next couple years. These were superseded in 1926 by the first stamps inscribed for Algeria, the series consisting of four typographed designs showing local scenes, and ultimately consisting of 35 types, ranging from 1 centime to 20 francs. Algeria's first commemorative stamp, a 10-franc value depicting the Bay of Algiers, marked the 100th anniversary of French control. A new definitive series in 1936 again depicted local scenery, using eight engraved designs for 31 values.

In 1942, a photolithographed set featured the arms of Algerian cities, and was issued both with and without the engraver's name in the lower left margin. Following the liberation of France, stamps were issued depicting Marianne and the Gallic cock, in designs similar to French stamps; in addition, the old "ALGÉRIE" overprint was revived and applied to French stamps through 1947.

In 1947, a new set of 16 definitives also featured city coats of arms, and remained in use through the 1950s, along with a handful of commemoratives. Algeria reverted to the use of French stamps between 1958 and 1962.

Independent Algeria started its own stamp program on 2 July 1962, with locally-applied overprints reading "EA" on stocks of French stamps. These overprints exist in a wide variety of colors and typefaces. These continued in use until 31 October, and were superseded the following day by a set of five designs showing local scenes, and inscribed "REPUBLIQUE ALGERIENNE" in both French and Arabic (the first appearance of Arabic on Algerian stamps).

Algeria's definitive series since independence include a set showing occupations in 1964, a depiction of Abd-el-Kader in 1967, and multiple issues showing local views starting in 1982.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postage_stamps_and_postal_history_of_Algeria

Scott: #199-201P

Issued: 1945-1947

Definitive

Inside #199-201: France Type A1O!

(Pic of France #1O)

Scott: #B53P

Issued: 6.3.1948

Stamp Day

Inside #B53: France #1O!

Scott: #478P

Issued: 22.4.1972

Stamp Day

Inside #478: Stamp on Envelope

Scott: #489P

Issued: 20.1.1973

Stamp Day

Inside #489: Stamp on Envelope

Scott: #520P

Issued: 7.10.1974

Stamp Day

Inside #520: Stamp Machine

#570

Scott: #570P

Issued: 22.3.1976

Stamp Day

Inside #570: Stamp on Envelope

Scott: #841P

Issued: 5.7.1987

25th Anniversary, Algerian Postage

War Orphans Fund Label of 1962 Inside #841: Algeria Mi #393O

War Orphans Fund Label of 1962

Scott: #1128O

(Michel: 1223)

Issued: 3.8.1998

Arab Postal Union

Inside #1128: Pseudo Stamp

Scott: #1167O

Issued: 9.10.1999

World Post Day

Inside #1167: Algeria #435O

Inside #1167: Algeria #503P

#737 Inside #1167: Algeria #737O

Inside #1167: Algeria #563O

Inside #1167: Algeria #812O

Thanks to Lou Guadagno

Scott: #1232O

Issued: 9.10.2001

Dialogue among Civilizations

Inside #???: Pseudo Stamp on Envelope

Thanks to Lloyd Gilbert

Scott: #1418O

Issued: 1.11.2007

Encyclopedia of Algerian stamps

Inside #1418: Algeria #1323O

Scott: #1442O

Issued: 5.11.2008

12^th Conference - Stamps Association

Inside #1442: Pseudo Stamp

Thanks to G.B.

Scott: #1570P

Issued: 01.11.2012

50th Anniversary of the First Algeria Stamp

Inside #1570 (In margin): Algeria Mi #393

Thanks to Lou Guadagno for the IDs and scans

Thanks to Prof. Plinio Richelmi

algeria ss 11 1 17

Scott: #????O

Issued: 01.11.2017

Revolution and Independence

algeria ss detail

Inside #???? (In background of left margin and behind and thru stamps): Algeria Mi #393

Thanks to Lou Guadagno

Scott: #1861O

Issued: 03.11.2022

Algerian painters that designed postage stamps

Inside #1861: Pseudo stamps

Lou wrote: When this issue came out, I was so annoyed by it, I just ignored it. One of my favorite SoS mini-topic collections is Stamp Designers and their stamps, so when I saw that Algeria had issued a series of stamps to honor "Algerian Painters That Designed Postage Stamps", I thought I would have additions for my collection. To my disgust, I found three of the four stamps just pictured the artists, and the fourth, added insult to injury, by adding pseudo stamps below the artist.

Thanks to Lou Guadagno