Large Hermes head
Overview
The stamps depict a profile of the Greek messenger god Hermes
Hermes
Hermes is the great messenger of the gods in Greek mythology and a guide to the Underworld. Hermes was born on Mount Kyllini in Arcadia. An Olympian god, he is also the patron of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them, of shepherds and cowherds, of the cunning of thieves, of orators and...
(Mercury) in a frame strongly resembling that used for contemporary stamps of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The first set was issued on October 1, 1861. It consisted of seven denominations
Denomination (postage stamp)
:This article deals with the price of a postage stamp. For other meanings of the word 'denomination' see Denomination .In philately, the denomination is the "inscribed value of a stamp"...
(1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 lepta).
Quotations
The durian — neither Wallace or Darwin agreed on it. Darwin said "may your worst enemies be forced to feed on it." Wallace cried "it's delicious." Darwin replied "I'm suspicious", For the flavour is scented Like papaya fermented After a fruit-eating bat has pee'd on it.
Horticulture, 1973 . Refers to Alfred Wallace, who cited an enthusiastic long list of durian recipes in his book.