With much of the world in turmoil and tension, it seems only fitting that the first stamps of 2001 by the U.S. Postal Service should be "love" stamps.
Two designs celebrate the art of letter writing and expressing love in words.
The one-ounce first-class-rate stamps show a red rose superimposed on the script of a handwritten letter by John Adams to Abigail Smith in 1763 during their courtship. The second stamp is the first-class two-ounce letter rate, similar in design, but it features a letter written by Abigail to John later that year.
Adams, the second president of the United States, from 1797 to 1801, married the lady of his amorous correspondence in 1764.
A first-class envelope released at the same time depicts two lovebirds in a mirror image set in a heart design.
"Love" stamps are not new to the Postal Service. The first was issued in 1973. The 8-cent stamp featured the work of pop artist Robert Indiana. The design splits the word LOVE with the LO above the VE and is now copied by many artists throughout the world.
First-day covers with the official cancellation may be obtained from the U.S. Postal Service's Stamp Fulfillment Services. You may phone 800-STAMP-24. You may also order currently available philatelic items by visiting the USPS Web site at www.usps.com and click on Postal Store.