25th Anniversary of the Algerian Stamp
The twenty-fifth anniversary of the Algerian postage stamp coincides with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of independence for an obvious reason: the recovery of Algeria's independence also required the reappropriation of its institutions, one of the most important of which was the postal administration. If it is accepted that the first authentically Algerian stamp is the “1+9” issued on November 1, 1962, which illustrates this issue, we should also know that the first postage stamps overprinted EA for “Algerian State” were issued the day after independence.
Beyond the usefulness of the postage stamp for postal franking, the Algerian postage stamp also constitutes an inseparable element of the universal philatelic movement. Collectible postage stamps represent a significant value for sale; it is also necessary to distinguish real from fake stamps and all variations of fake stamps in this context.
We must actually differentiate between forgeries designed to deceive the post office and forgeries designed to deceive collectors. Forgeries to deceive the post office are called “forgeries for use”. They are the work of counterfeiters who place them illegally in the postal circuit, causing minimal damage to the State. The low face value, the means of production and the short time to sell these stamps do not allow significant gains to be made.
High value collectible stamps have also been reproduced. The fact remains that seasoned philatelists and experts have the means to reliably detect the real ones from the fake ones, or almost. There are in fact fakes including those made by the counterfeiters Fournier or Sperati who deceived the most seasoned philatelists. From then on, some fakes gained as much value as the real ones. If for a collector, it is good practice, before acquiring a stamp of high value, to seek the advice of a philately expert, a Fournier or a Sperati is sought after precisely because it is fake.
Beyond the usefulness of the postage stamp for postal franking, the Algerian postage stamp also constitutes an inseparable element of the universal philatelic movement. Collectible postage stamps represent a significant value for sale; it is also necessary to distinguish real from fake stamps and all variations of fake stamps in this context.
We must actually differentiate between forgeries designed to deceive the post office and forgeries designed to deceive collectors. Forgeries to deceive the post office are called “forgeries for use”. They are the work of counterfeiters who place them illegally in the postal circuit, causing minimal damage to the State. The low face value, the means of production and the short time to sell these stamps do not allow significant gains to be made.
High value collectible stamps have also been reproduced. The fact remains that seasoned philatelists and experts have the means to reliably detect the real ones from the fake ones, or almost. There are in fact fakes including those made by the counterfeiters Fournier or Sperati who deceived the most seasoned philatelists. From then on, some fakes gained as much value as the real ones. If for a collector, it is good practice, before acquiring a stamp of high value, to seek the advice of a philately expert, a Fournier or a Sperati is sought after precisely because it is fake.