Marianne stamps get a new look

NEW POSTAGE stamps go on sale from tomorrow with a new-look Marianne, whose features have been inspired by Femen protester Inna Shevchenko.

Revealed in a ceremony at the Elysee by President Hollande, the stamp was designed by David Kawena and Olivier Ciappa. Mr Hollande chose the final design with the help of school students across France who had chosen the short list of three designs.

Mr Ciappa said this morning that he had already received threats on Twitter about his design, which echo threats over his recent photo exhibition against homophobia, and politician Christine Boutin, of the Christian Democrat party, has called for a boycott of the stamp.

The stamp comes in 15 values and 15 colours and 630 million stamps have been printed in strict secrecy by La Poste's printworks at Boulazac in Dordogne over the past two months. In all, the printworks print nearly three billion Marianne stamps a year.

Older-style Marianne stamps are still usable.