MINT condition, in original packaging. Scroll down image below.

Cartoons, as we know them, were changed forever when Matt Groening introduced us to The Simpsons in 1987. The Simpsons is the longest-running animated program in television history, and in honour of this Australia Post is featuring some of The Simpsons' cast in the tabs of a stamp sheet which has a background image of hundreds of other characters from The Simpsons.

Featured in the stamp tabs are (from left to right and top to bottom):

• Homer SimpsonBart SimpsonMarge Simpson
• Lisa Simpson
• Maggie Simpson
• Abraham Simpson
• Charles Montgomery Burns
• Herschel Krustofski (Krusty the Clown)
• Ned Flanders
• Apu Nahasapeemapetilon

History of The Simpsons
In need of filler material for FOX's The Tracey Ullman Show, Pauly Platt, a fan of Matt Groening's "Life in Hell" comic strip, suggested that Groening be brought in to work on the program. The Simpson family itself was created in less than 15 minutes while Groening waited in the foyer to James L. Brooks' office. As he was not feeling particularly creative that day, he named them after his own family: Matt's father is called Homer and his mother is called Margaret (he thought Marge was a funnier name). He also has two sisters called Lisa and Maggie. He called the main character Bart, because it is an anagram of brat.

The show first appeared on 19 April 1987 as a series of 30-second spots produced by Groening. Response to the Ullman shorts was so positive that The Simpsons premiered on FOX as a half-hour Christmas special on 17 December 1989, and then as a regular series on 14 January 1990.

In the beginning, Bart was made to be the main character. This is evident from the vast number of Bart-orientated episodes in the first few seasons, such as "Bart the General" and "Bart the Daredevil". Bart was also the centre of much of the merchandise, and even the focal point of two music videos: "Do The Bartman" and "Trouble".

After a few seasons, it emerged that Homer was more popular than Bart hence the large increase in Homer-orientated episodes in later seasons, such as "Homer the Heretic" and "Homer vs. Patty & Selma" to name just two.

Nowadays, episodes are not just based around the Simpson family. Episodes featuring supporting characters are very common, such as "Hurricane Neddy" (Ned Flanders), "Worst Episode Ever" (Comic Book Guy), and "22 Short Films About Springfield" (a host of supporting characters).

Awards and Honours
As far as achievements go, The Simpsons has been honoured with a Peabody Award, more than 20 Emmy Awards, nearly 50 Emmy nominations, more than 20 Annie Awards, four Genesis Awards, a Golden Globe nomination for Best Musical or Comedy in 2003, and many more accolades. In September 2003, "Three Gays of the Condo" won an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program, marking the eighth time The Simpsons has captured that award. "Life on the Fast Lane", "Homer vs. Lisa and the Eighth Commandment", "Lisa's Wedding", "Homer's Phobia", "Trash of the Titans", "Behind the Laughter", and "HOMR" also captured the award in 1990, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2001, respectively. In 1997 The Simpsons surpassed The Flintstones as the longest-running prime-time animated show in history.

One unique honour came on 14 January 2000, when The Simpsons received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Postage is 3.95USD