U.S. #2379
1988 45¢ Pink and Yellow Roses
Love Series
- Issued for use on heavy wedding invitations
- Paid two-ounce first-class rate
- 8th stamp in Love series
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Love
Value: 45¢, two-ounce first-class rate
First Day of Issue: August 8, 1988
First Day City: Shr... more
U.S. #2379
1988 45¢ Pink and Yellow Roses
Love Series
- Issued for use on heavy wedding invitations
- Paid two-ounce first-class rate
- 8th stamp in Love series
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Love
Value: 45¢, two-ounce first-class rate
First Day of Issue: August 8, 1988
First Day City: Shreveport, Louisiana
Quantity Issued: 169,765,000
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Photogravure
Format: Panes of 50 in sheets of 200
Perforations: 11
Why the stamp was issued: To provide couples sending out wedding invitations with a two-ounce first-class Love stamp. They had received requests for such a stamp for a while. Wedding invitations are often heavier than one ounce because they usually contain at least two envelopes and an RSVP card. Prior to this stamp, couples were usually told to frank their invitations with a Love stamp and an unrelated stamp, or overpay postage with two Love stamps. With this stamp, they could pay the correct amount of postage with one fitting stamp.
This stamp also paid the rate for greeting cards measuring more than 11.5 inches by 6.5 inches or more than a quarter inch thick. 45¢ also paid the overseas airmail rate, but postmasters were told to limit the Love stamp sales to collectors and those mailing greeting cards and wedding invitations.
About the stamp design: Richard Sheaff worked with photographer Robert Schlowsky as he had on the 25¢ Love stamp (#2378). They photographed a large number of roses and Sheaff mocked up a design of 10 roses – five red and five yellow, arranged vertically.
First Day City: The First Day ceremony for this stamp was held at the American Rose Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, “the world’s largest rose garden,” which houses over 20,000 roses bushes in more than 40 gardens.
About the Love Series: Based on the popularity of Christmas stamps, the USPS issued its first Love stamp in 1973. It wasn’t intended to be the start of a series, and, in fact, it wasn’t until 1982 that another Love stamp was issued. Love-themed stamps were issued sporadically over the next few years. The USPS stated that they weren’t intended just for Valentine’s Day mail, but also for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. In 1987, the USPS officially declared it a series, and new Love stamps have been issued nearly every year since. Love stamps are on sale longer than most commemorative stamps and are usually printed in greater quantities. They have sometimes been known to go back to press for additional printings if demand is sufficient.
History the stamp represents: The American Rose Society is dedicated to the “enjoyment, enhancement and promotion of America’s Floral Emblem,” the rose. Founded in 1892, this national nonprofit educational organization has over 24,000 members. The society’s headquarters are located near Shreveport, Louisiana, at the American Rose Center. This center is home to over 20,000 rose bushes representing 400 varieties of modern and old roses.
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