Yours Devotedly and Lovingly

2021 LOVE stamp

 

If ever there was a stamp series that has truly captured my heart (pun only slightly intended), it is the LOVE series by the USPS. The LOVE stamp was first introduced in 1973. The LOVE stamps are usually issued in time for Valentine mailing and feature designs filled with traditional symbols of love. The first ever USPS LOVE stamp was designed by American artist Robert Indiana. He was associated with the Pop art movement of the 1950s and 1960s and his LOVE sculpture was the basis for his stamp design. The stamp was released in Philadelphia, the “City of Brotherly Love” on January 26, 1973. 

First LOVE stamp 1973 issue

The postal service didn’t see it as the start of a new series. They described it as “A special stamp for someone special.” They printed more than 320 million stamps and it was very popular. Although the usual grumps and negative nay-sayers called it a “hippie stamp”. 🙄 

Second LOVE stamp 1982 issue

When the postal rates changed, the public asked for the USPS to reissue the LOVE stamp at the new first class rate, but they didn’t, not for a long time. Requests for another LOVE stamp began to pour into the USPS and finally in 1982, they released a second stamp. In 1984 a third LOVE stamp was released, but the USPS still did not consider the three stamps part of a series. They were very popular, however and the LOVE stamps were always issued in higher quantities and were available for longer lengths of time than regular commemorative stamps. People began using them for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and for that literary classic, the love letter! 💌 🥰

Third LOVE stamp 1984 issue

The love-themed stamps continued in this manner until 1987 when the USPS officially announced that they would issue a new LOVE stamp every year!! 🥳 Hallelujah! Success may be a series of small victories, but LOVE is a series of delightful postage stamps, at least for a postal nerd like me! 😉🥰📬

1985 LOVE stamp. Issued on the set of the TV show LOVE BOAT! 

I think snailmail is a truly wonderful way to share love with the world. Just this week I received four pieces of mail that totally brightened my day and filled me with love!! Doesn’t the world need more of that right about now!?!?!?! 🤨 

1991 LOVE stamp and one of Mrs. Murphy’s favorites. 🥰

Join me in this postal love fest and send some snailmail to the people in your life!! And don’t forget to use a LOVE stamp!!

1992 LOVE stamp

Yours devotedly and lovingly, 

Mrs. Murphy 🥰

XOXO