THESE TEN greetings stamps, based on favourite characters from children's literature, celebrate the idea of giving. The books and characters that we love in childhood are the ones that stay with us for ever. They are a constant source of happy memories, good humour and shared affection. These stamps are designed to reawaken that pleasure among those who send and those who receive a very special greeting.

Acknowledgements: • Long John Silver and Parrot, from Treasure Island by R. L. Stevenson, illustrated by Alan Cracknell. • Tweedledum and Tweedledee, from Alice Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Paul Slater (after Sir John Tenniel). • Characters from the William books by Richmal Crompton, illustrated by Paul Slater (after Thomas Henry, © The Thomas Henry Estate 1993) used with permission from Pan Macmillan Children's Books. • Characters from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by Paul Slater (after Arthur Rackham, © The Rackham Estate) originally published by Methuen Children's Books. • Characters from The Bash Street Kids cartoon strip in Beano, © D.C. Thomson & Co Ltd. • Illustration by Beatrix Potter, © Frederick Warne & Co. 1983, 1987, 1993, adapted by Alex Vining. • Father Christmas and the Snowman, from The Snowman, written and illustrated by Raymond Briggs. • Characters from The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) © Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake. • Rupert and Bill Badger, from the Rupert Bear cartoon strip in the Daily Express, illustrated by John Harrold, ™ & © Express Newspapers plc 1993. • Aladdin and the Genie, illustrated by Michael Foreman. • The White Rabbit, from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Bob Venables (after Sir John Tenniel.)