Issued by France in 1978, this charming semi-postal stamp features the classic fable “Le Lièvre et la Tortue” (The Hare and the Tortoise), symbolizing patience and perseverance. Designed in a finely detailed engraved style, the artwork depicts the overconfident hare alongside the steady tortoise in a rural landscape. The stamp carries a 1.00 Franc postage value plus a 0.25 Franc surcharge, which supported the French Red Cross, marked by the prominent red cross emblem. A delightful blend of literature, art, and charity, this issue is popular among thematic collectors of fables and Red Cross stamps.