Love stamp issued Jan. 21 features pink cut-paper heart

A pink heart caught inside a cut-paper rectangle with ornate flourishes serves as the design for the 2014 United States Love stamp issued Jan. 21.

Smaller hearts are included at the top and bottom of the design.

A first-day ceremony for the stamp was scheduled for 1 p.m. on the second floor atrium of the Time Warner Center at 10 Columbus Circle in New York City.

Actress Bella Thorne, known for her role as young dancer CeCe Jones on the Disney Channel series Shake It Up, was scheduled to participate in the event.

Additionally, Martha Stewart Weddings editorial director Darcy Miller was going to give a crafting demonstration.

The first United States Love stamp debuted in 1973. The 8¢ stamp (Scott 1973) features bold letters spelling “Love,” based on a design by Robert Indiana.

Graphic designer Q. Cassetti created the image used on the new Love: Cut Paper Heart stamp.

Antonio Alcala served as the U.S. Postal Service art director on the project.

The stamp art is reminiscent of ornately cut and painted love letters, according to the Postal Service. “The stamp art is a stunning digital interpretation of these traditional love-letter decorations.”

Technical details for the printing of the stamp were released Jan. 16, just five days prior to the stamp’s issuance.

Stamp printer CCL Label produced an initial quantity of 50 million Love: Cut Paper Heart stamps. The stamps will be issued in panes of 20.

Press sheets, both with and without the die cuts that normally separate individual stamps, were produced for the Love: Cut Paper Heart stamp. Each press sheet consists of six panes of 20 stamps and sells for $55.20.

First-day cancel ordering information for the Love: Cut Paper Heart stamp can be found in the box on this page.

Technical specifications for the stamp are below. 

Nondenominated (46¢) Love:
Cut Paper Heart forever stamp
FIRST DAY— Jan. 21, 2014; city— New York, N.Y., and nationwide.
DESIGN: artist— Q. Cassetti, Trumansburg, N.Y.; art director, typographer and designer— Antonio Alcala, Alexandria, Va.; modeler— CCL Label Inc.; engraver— WRE.
PRINTING: process— gravure; printer and processor— CCL Label Inc., Clinton, S.C.; press— Dia Nippon Kiko; inks— Pantone Matching System 32 red, 211 pink, 1807 dark red; paper— prephosphored, type I; gum— self-adhesive; issue quantity— 50 million stamps; format— pane of 20, from 120-subject cylinders; size— 1.05 inches by 0.77 inches (image); 1.19 inches by 0.91 inches (overall); 5.75 inches by 5.5 inches (full pane); plate numbers— “C” followed by three single digits; marginal markings— plate numbers in four corners (stamp side); “©2013 USPS,” USPS logo, plate position diagram, bar code 587200 in two corners, promotional text (back side); USPS item No.— 587204.
First-day cancel ordering information
Standard ordering instructions apply. Collectors requesting first-day cancels are encouraged to purchase their own stamps and affix them to envelopes. The first-day cover envelopes should be addressed for return (a removable label may be used), and mailed in a larger envelope addressed to Love: Cut Paper Heart Stamp, Special Events Coordinator, 380 W. 33rd St., Room 4032, New York, NY 10199-9998. Requests for first-day cancels must be postmarked by March 28.
The Postal Service’s uncacheted first-day cover for the Love: Cut Paper Heart stamp is item No. 587216 at 90¢.