Last November 20, the U.S. Postal Service revealed 55 stamps and one piece of postal stationery to be issued in 2019.
“The miniature works of art illustrated in the 2019 stamp program offer something for everyone’s interest about American history and culture,” said U.S. Postal Service Stamp Services Executive Director Mary-Anne Penner. “From legendary poet Walt Whitman to the entertainment genius of Gregory Hines to the majestic beauty of our Wild and Scenic Rivers, this program is diverse and wide ranging and tells America’s story on stamps.”
The first stamp of 2019, referred to as “Hearts Blossom” by the USPS, is the 65th Love stamp — the first one was issued in 1973, Scott 1475. (Five different “Love” stamped envelopes also were issued between 1989 and 2001.) The 2019 Forever Love stamp will pay the basic domestic first-class letter rate — 50-cents on the January 10 date of issue, leaping to 55 cents January 27.
The stamp features the word “Love” in cursive script below a dozen colorful hearts. According to a Postal Service press release, the stamp design is “…meant to visually express love’s joyful, bountiful nature. The color palette — red, purple, orange and pink — is intended to create a happy and positive feeling.” Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp, which will be released at the Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art in San Juan.
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local post office, or at The Postal Store website at usps.com/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:
FDOI – Hearts Blossom Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900
After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for postmarking up to 50 first-day covers, but there is a 5-cent charge for each postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by May 10, 2019.
A traditional mainstay of affectionate gift-giving, flowers both conventional and fanciful have been seen on many U.S. Love stamps starting with the second in the series, the 20-cent issues by Mary Faulkner showing “Love” spelled out in foliage, issued in 1982, Scott 1951-51A.
USPS veteran designer Richard Sheaff said it with Roses on 25-cent and 45-cent Love stamps in 1988, Scott 2378-79, as did 29-cent and 52-cent Love & Dove designs by Lon Busch in 1994, Scott 2814-15. Pink and red roses enhanced heart-shaped Victorian Valentines on 33-cent and 55-cent Love stamps in 1999, Scott 3274-75.
A single rose stood in for the “O” in “LOVE” on the John and Abigail Adams Love Letter stamps issued in 2001, which allowed young couples to actually frank their love letters with those of a Founding Father and his First Lady, Scott 3496-99. They were so successful they were reused in updated denominations later that same year, Scott 3550-51. (Editor’s Note: See our feature on those 2001 Love Letter stamps in this issue on page 162.)
Portrayed in chalk and pastels, a hand holding a floral bouquet delivered romance on the 37-cent Love stamp in 2005, Scott 3898, and stylized flowers played a role as well on the 44-cent King & Queen of Hearts Love stamps of 2009, Scott 4404-05.
In 2010, Love arrived in a 44-cent Basket of Purple Pansies stamp, Scott 4450, followed in 2011 by the first Love “Forever” (44-cent) stamps, a se-tenant issue of 10 featuring an entire “Garden of Love” with a predominately floral theme, Scott 4540a.
Finally, last year saw a “Forever” (49-cent) stamp by Greg Breeding, with “Love” in script on a bed of painted posies, somewhat reminiscent of its first floral forerunner of 37 years ago.