2021 "Love" Forever Stamps
2021 Love – Love Series
• Part of the Love stamp series
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Love
Value:First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: January 14, 2021
First Day City: Loveland, Colorado
Quantity Issued: 200,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset, Microprint
Format: Panes of 20
Tagging: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Why the stamp was issued: To continue the popular Love Series of stamps.
About the stamp design: Pictures a colorful digital illustration of the word “LOVE” with each letter having two different colors. Also includes three large, two-toned hearts as well as a small single-color heart, a rectangle, and an arch.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held virtually due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The First Day of Issue Cancellation was from Loveland, Colorado, home to the Valentine Re-mailing Program. This program allows people around the world to send their valentines to Loveland to be hand-stamped with a cachet, verse, and specially designed cancel. A new verse is chosen each year through a contest held by the town’s chamber of commerce. The program began in January 1947 and re-mails over 160,000 cards each year. Re-mailed cards from Loveland have become popular with collectors.
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 ever 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: From Antony and Cleopatra to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, history is full of love stories. One of the most well known in the modern era is the story of music legends Johnny Cash and June Carter.
Cash and Carter first met backstage at the Grand Ole Opry in July 1956. Both were accomplished singers in their own right, and Carter toured with Cash as a back-up singer for years. No one knows for sure when their romantic relationship began, but it was not until 1967 that they could officially be together. (Carter divorced her second husband in 1966, and Cash and his first wife divorced in 1967.)
When asked about the start of her relationship with Cash, Carter later said, “It was not a convenient time for me to fall in love with him, and it wasn’t a convenient time for him to fall in love with me… I thought ‘I can’t fall in love with this man,’ but it’s just like a ring of fire.” Cash and Carter were married in February 1968 and had one son together.
Johnny Cash and June Carter may not have been each others’ first loves, but what they had was true love. Cash often credited Carter with helping him overcome his drug and alcohol addictions. The two were together for over 30 years and passed away just four months apart. It truly was a love story for the ages.
Frequently Asked Questions
How it works?
A Forever® stamp is for sending domestic mail weighing up to 1 oz via First-Class Mail®.
Purpose: Send letters and cards up to 1 oz (approximately 4 sheets of regular, 8-1/2" x 11" paper in a rectangular envelope)
within the U.S., including U.S. territories and military bases overseas.
Value: Always valid for the First-Class Mail 1 oz rate, even if postage rates increase. Visit First-Class Mail and Postage to view
current rates.
Other Uses: Pair this stamp’s value with other postage to meet mailing costs when additional postage is required.
Use the Retail Postage Calculator to determine the exact cost of your mail.
Why is "FOREVER" crossed out in the image?
So the lines in your picture:
- It does not mean that the stamp has expired;
- It does not mean that you cannot continue to use it;
- Nor a postmark;
- It's just an artificial anti-copying line added to the display image.
Note: If the physical stamp you receive actually has this crossed line printed on it, be cautious. It may be a display sample, a replica or a fake stamp, rather than a normal usable stamp.
What are the common types of stamps, and how do they differ?
- Forever Stamp: Valid for standard domestic letters within the U.S. These stamps typically do not bear a fixed face value; they remain valid for mailing a standard one-ounce letter at the current rate, even if postage prices increase in the future.
- Global Forever Stamp: Primarily used for standard international letters or postcards sent from the U.S. to other countries. The main difference between this and a standard Forever Stamp lies in its scope of use and postage value.
- Postcard Stamp: Designed specifically for domestic postcards that meet USPS size standards; the postage rate is typically lower than that for standard letters.
- Additional Ounce Stamp: Used to cover the cost of weight exceeding the first ounce; these are usually used in conjunction with a Forever Stamp or other stamps.
- Two-Ounce and Three-Ounce Stamps: Suitable for heavier letters, greeting cards, wedding invitations, or multi-page documents, eliminating the need to combine multiple stamps to cover the required postage.
- Fixed-Value Stamps: These stamps display a specific monetary value (e.g., 1¢, 5¢, or other amounts) and are primarily used to make up postage differences or in combination with other stamps.
- Commemorative and Thematic Stamps: Typically issued to mark historical events, cultural or artistic themes, holidays, notable figures, animals, or natural landscapes. While suitable for regular mail, these stamps are also popular among collectors due to their unique designs and limited release periods.
It is important to note that a stamp's theme and its postage class can overlap; for example, a holiday-themed stamp might also be a Forever Stamp. When purchasing, check for markings such as FOREVER, GLOBAL, POSTCARD, ADDITIONAL OUNCE, or a specific face value to confirm the stamp's intended use.
Why choose StampResale.com?
- At StampResale, you will find a diverse range of U.S. stamps—including classic Forever Stamps, holiday-themed issues, commemorative stamps, and specialty collections—catering to needs ranging from everyday mailing and gift-giving to serious collecting.
We also frequently offer limited-time discounts, bundle deals, and exclusive promotions, providing you with a wider selection and greater value while guaranteeing the authenticity and quality of our stamps.
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