© 2024 USPS
On January 17, 2025, in Kutztown, PA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Love stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 581800). This stamp will go on sale nationwide January 17, 2025, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.
This new Love stamp celebrates the universal experience of love with a work by artist Keith Haring (1958–1990). The stamp features Haring’s 1985 Untitled drawing. Two moving figures reach toward a red heart, a theme he returned to throughout his career. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, selected the Haring artwork for the stamp design.
Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales. Distribution quantities for the automatic push distribution will be available by logging on to SFS Web at sfsweb.usps.gov. Post Offices may begin ordering stamps before the first-day-of-issue through SFS Web; offices should also check the amount they will receive on their automatic push distribution.
Only the following pictorial postmark is permitted for the Love stamp. The word “Station” or the abbrevia-tion “STA” is required somewhere in the design because it will be a temporary station. Use of any image other than the following special pictorial image is prohibited.
To finalize the Love stamp pictorial postmark art, insert the date, city, state, and ZIP Code™ of the physical location of your event adjacent to the stamp image. Overall dimensions of the pictorial postmark must not exceed 4 inches (horizontally) by 2 inches (vertically). Collectors prefer the dimensions 3-1/2 inches by 1 inch.
The Postal Service™ must make all special postmarks known to collectors through advance publicity in the Postal Bulletin. Therefore, all special dedication cancellations must be reported to Stamp Services 4 weeks before the event using PS Form 413, Pictorial Postmark Announcement/Report. To get a copy of the form, go to blue.usps.gov/formmgmt/forms/ps413.pdf.
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 store.usps.com/store/home. 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 – Love 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 the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by May 17, 2025.
The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the USA Philatelic catalog and online at store.usps.com/store/home. Customers may register to receive a free USA Philatelic catalog online at usps.com/philatelic.
Locally produced items are not authorized. Only merchandise that has been approved and assigned an item number by Headquarters Retail Marketing may be produced and sold.
Issue:
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Love Stamp
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Item Number:
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581800
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Denomination &
Type of Issue:
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First-Class Mail Forever
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Format:
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Pane of 20 (1 design)
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Series:
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Love
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Issue Date & City:
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January 17, 2025, Kutztown, PA 19530
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Art Director:
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Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
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Designer:
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Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
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Existing Art:
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Keith Haring
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Modeler:
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Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
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Manufacturing Process:
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Offset, Microprint
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Printer:
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Banknote Corporation of America
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Press Type:
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Alprinta 74
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Stamps per Pane:
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20
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Print Quantity:
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175,000,000 stamps
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Paper Type:
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Phosphor, Block Tag
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Adhesive Type:
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Pressure-sensitive
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Colors:
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PMS 185 C, PMS Black 6 C
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Stamp Orientation:
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Vertical
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Image Area (w x h):
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0.7700 x 1.0500 in. / 19.5580 x
26.6700 mm.
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Overall Size (w x h):
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0.9100 x 1.1900 in. / 23.1140 x
30.2260 mm.
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Full Pane Size (w x h):
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5.5500 x 5.7600 in. / 140.9700 x
146.3040 mm.
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Press Sheets Size (w x h):
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22.2000 x 11.5200 in. / 563.8800 x
292.6080 mm.
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Plate Size:
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320 stamps per revolution
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Plate Number:
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“B” followed by two (2) single digits
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Marginal Markings:
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Front:
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Plate number in four corners
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Back:
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© Keith Haring Foundation. Licensed by Artestar, New York • © 2024 USPS • USPS Logo • Two barcodes (581800) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text
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— Stamp Services,
Marketing, 12-12-24
