Document annotation and manipulation in a data processing system

A data processing system is programmed to display an annotatable bit map image of a text document, a spreadsheet and the like. Annotations are superimposed on a displayed, annotatable image, under control of an annotation program, in response to an input device, such as a mouse, keyboard or stylus (or pen) and electrical writing tablet. An annotatable bit map image and, any annotation superimposed thereon during an annotation session, are reduced in size to a miniature size stamp image in response to a selection input received by the processor from an input device. The stamp image is of a size which is recognizable to a user due to its resemblance to the large size annotatable image of a document and annotations thereto, if any. In turn, an annotatable bit map image, whether annotated or not, is expandable to the larger annotatable image in response to selection inputs supplied to the programmed processor from an input device.