Reading Copy Book Blog

The Telegraph reports that Scottish bard, Robert Burns will become the first non-Royal to be celebrated with three collections of stamps when this week’s new edition is released.

Burns will outdo Winston Churchill (honored with 2 special editions of stamps)  and Shakespeare and Charles Dickens who have only had one edition each.

The first class stamps featuring Burns’ portrait on one and on the other, the words from one of his most notable sons, “A Man’s a Man For A’ That“.   On the other four stamps are pictured a saltire, a thistle, a lion rampant and a tartan cloth.

The Royal Mint is also offering a special £2 Robert Burns commemorative coin.

A Man’s A Man for A’ That

Is there for honest poverty
That hangs his head, an’ a’ that
The coward slave, we pass him by
We dare be poor for a’ that
For a’ that, an’ a’ that
The rank is but the guinea’s stamp
The man’s the gowd for a’ that
What though on hamely fare we dine
Wear hoddin grey, an’ a’ that
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine
A man’s a man, for a’ that
For a’ that, an’ a’ that
Their tinsel show an’ a’ that
The honest man, though e’er sae poor
Is king o’ men for a’ that
Ye see yon birkie ca’d a lord
Wha struts an’ stares an’ a’ that
Tho’ hundreds worship at his word
He’s but a coof for a’ that
For a’ that, an’ a’ that
The man o’ independent mind
He looks an’ laughs at a’ that
A prince can mak’ a belted knight
A marquise, duke, an’ a’ that
But an honest man’s aboon his might
Gude faith, he maunna fa’ that
For a’ that an’ a’ that
Their dignities an’ a’ that
The pith o’ sense an’ pride o’ worth
Are higher rank that a’ that
Then let us pray that come it may
(as come it will for a’ that)
That sense and worth, o’er a’ the earth
Shall bear the gree an’ a’ that
For a’ that an’ a’ that
It’s coming yet for a’ that
That man to man, the world o’er
Shall brithers be for a’ that