Birth of Burns marked with stamps

The stamps will be on sale throughout 2009

Stamps marking the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns have been unveiled by Royal Mail.

One of the two new first class stamps depicts the famous Alexander Naismith portrait of Burns.

The other celebrates one of the bard's most famous and enduring lines - "A man's a man for a' that".

Burns is the only person outside the Royal Family to feature in three special stamp issues, in 1966 and 1996 and now in 2009.

We expect them to be very popular with Burns enthusiasts and the general public both at home and abroad Ian McKay Royal Mail In pictures: The Burns Collection

The new Burns miniature sheet of stamps will be available to the public from Thursday, ahead of the anniversary on 25 January.

Royal Mail's Ian McKay said: "We are extremely proud at Royal Mail to be celebrating the historic 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet with a truly striking set of stamps.

"The major significance of Burns, not just in Scotland but around the world, is recognised by the fact that this is the third issue of stamps that has been devoted to him.

"The stamps are beautifully designed and we expect them to be very popular with Burns enthusiasts and the general public both at home and abroad."

The stamps were launched at the cottage in Alloway where Burns was born 250 years ago on Sunday and will be available throughout the 2009 Year of Homecoming.