The Herbs and The Adventures of Parsley   Classic BBC kid's animation by Michael Bond

On this page..... A set of colourful greetings cards -complete with a few grey areas.

Whilst I call these a "set",there's nothing on them to say how many different ones were available.So it's entirely possible there were more than the five I've got here -particularly when you consider that the likes of Sir Basil and Constable Knapweed are missing.

The small round label says "Personal Cards".And "personal" because they each include a letraset-style transfer sheet of "over 370" christian names plus ages,that you simply applied as appropriate.Which presumably means you were due a refund if you got them home only to find your name wasn't among them ! Although it's surely more "personal" just to write it down yourself anyway.

But at least they were trying to offer something different,which not many birthday card producers could say back then.Although I confess I don't know exactly when "back then" was. Because these particular examples are all still sealed in their original cellophane with no copyright information visible.And I don't feel inclined to crack one open just to find out.But they've certainly got some age to them,because they've got 0.18p printed on the backs.So it just depends when you could last buy a birthday card for 18p   ?  Early 70's  ?

Anyhow,the backs also confirm that the message in each is a refreshingly simple "Many Happy Returns",resisting any attempts at some rather obvious "Herbidacious" wordplay.Which is completely in keeping actually,because they give the general impression of being quality items,with nice thick card and lovely crisp printing.

Although you do have to wonder whether the combination of Lady Rosemary and a chive was particulary astute from a sales point of view !