He is one of 11 of the greatest football heroes from Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales to feature on the new Royal Mail stamps.

BBC: George Best features on a set of Royal Mail stamps.

The Royal Mail stamps celebrate 150 years of the Football Association.

BBC: George Best features on a set of Royal Mail stamps.

Last summer, Royal Mail rushed out stamps of all gold medal winners from Team GB and Paralympics GB, within 24 hours of each athlete's victory.

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Royal Mail plans to issue four stamps every month in 1999, looking back over the past 1, 000 years of British history and achievement.

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"It is estimated that over half the world's population have heard of James Bond which is an incredible testament to the imagination of his creator, Ian Fleming, " said Julietta Edgar, the Royal Mail's head of special stamps.

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And because Royal Mail had already printed millions of the stamps before it received the Queen's official approval, it is too late for a redesign.

BBC: News | UK | Queen's head goes up in smoke

The Royal Mail is launching a limited edition set of stamps commemorating the career of veteran comic Norman Wisdom.

BBC: Norman Wisdom

At age 17 he left high school in Opelousas, La. for a career in telemarketing at Omaha's NeoData Services, a giant fulfillment company known for junk mail blitzes promoting everything from magazine subscriptions to limited-edition Elvis stamps.

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Meanwhile, the SNP MSP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Willie Coffey, is to ask the Scottish banks, the Royal Mail, the Royal Mint and the Bank of England to issue commemorative notes, stamps and coins in Burns' honour.

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