400th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF JEAN DE LA FONTAINE  

Born in 1621 in Château-Thierry, Jean de La Fontaine is the best known of the 17^th century French poets, and he was in his time, if not the most admired, at least the most read, notably thanks to his Tales and his Fables. A dazzling stylist, he carried the fable, a genre before him minor, to a degree of achievement that remains unsurpassed. Moralist, not moralizing, he takes a lucid look at power relations and human nature, without forgetting to please in order to educate. His work occupies a prominent place in the French cultural heritage and certain precepts have entered popular wisdom.

• Design and line-engraving: Pierre ALBUISSON
• Printing process: 3 colours steel-engraving
• Size of the stamp: 40 x 31,77 mm horizontal
• Quantity of issue: 40 000 stamps
• Sheet of 10 stamps with illuminations