Philatelic issue (not) only for lovers

Ahead of the upcoming Valentine's Day, Poczta Polska introduced a commemorative stamp and postcard for the "I Love You" issue. The stamp features a heart motif folded in the art of origami.

The Polish Post Office encourages people to maintain the tradition of sending Valentines by hand. Although this custom has only been present in Poland since the 1990s, it has become incredibly popular. Giving a Valentine is a way to express affection, but also a way to remember those closest to us. On this day, not only lovers exchange gifts, but also, through the gift of a Valentine, we show affection to loved ones and friends. This year, Valentines can be stamped with a special postage stamp.

This year's "I Love You" stamp is adorned with an origami heart. The issue is accompanied by a First Day Cover (FDC), which also features a red origami heart as the main element. The issue also features a commemorative date stamp, which repeats the heart motif, this time in an outline format.

St. Valentine, the patron saint of Valentine's Day, is an enigmatic figure. He was the bishop of Terni, near Rome. Legend has it that St. Valentine rebelled against the emperor's edict banning marriage. Emperor Claudius II noticed that married men preferred to stay at home rather than willingly participate in wars. St. Valentine, however, ignored this prohibition and secretly married couples. Unfortunately, the secret was revealed, and the saint was executed.

According to the second version, the circumstances of St. Valentine's death were completely different. A third-century bishop of Terni was blessed by God with extraordinary healing powers. News of this reached the Roman philosopher Craton, whose son was gravely ill with epilepsy, and Craton approached Valentine for help. St. Valentine agreed to help Craton's family on the condition that he convert. And so he did. Convinced by the Saint's miracle, the Philosopher was baptized, along with his family and disciples. However, the Roman Senate was reluctant to accept this, and St. Valentine was deemed a danger to the state and sentenced to death.

Regardless of the accepted version, the Basilica of St. Valentine in Terni is considered a key site for Valentine's Day celebrations. It houses a reliquary containing the remains of the patron saint and the inscription "Saint Valentine, patron of love." It is a place frequently visited by engaged couples from around the world and spouses celebrating their wedding anniversaries.

About the stamp:

author of the design: Agnieszka Sancewicz
number of stamps: 1
value: ECONOMIC M
circulation: 2,000,000 pcs. repeatable
printing technique: rotogravure
stamp format: 25.5 x 31.25 mm
paper: fluorescent
sales sheet: 100 stamps
date of circulation: February 7, 2024