Announced November 20, 2018. The most recent information will appear after the large illustration and the introductory description from the USPS.

The Scott catalogue number for this issue is 5339. Scott, by the way, simply calls this issue “Love.”

Hearts Blossom is the latest stamp in the Love series from the U.S. Postal Service. The stamp art features the word “Love” in cursive script below 12 colorful hearts meant to visually express love’s joyful, bountiful nature. The color palette — red, purple, orange and pink — is intended to create a happy and positive feeling. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp.

Added December 7th: This stamp will be issued Thursday, February 10th, in San Juan, PR.

Added December 15th: USPS press advisory

Love Kicks Off 2019 

The U.S. PostalService to Dedicate the Hearts Blossom Forever Stamp

What: Twelve colorful hearts visually expressing love’s joyful, bountiful nature illustrate the first Forever stamp issued in 2019 and will be revealed by the U.S. Postal Service during a first-day-of-issue ceremony. The event is free and open to the public.

 News on the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #LoveStamps.

Who: Robert Cintron, vice president, Network Operations, U.S. Postal Service

When: Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, at 11 a.m. AST

Where: Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art
Ave. Juan Ponce de León
(Corner Ave. Robert H. Todd, Stop 18)
San Juan, PR 00910

 Followers of the U.S. Postal Service’s Facebook page can view the ceremony live at facebook.com/USPS.

RSVP: Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at usps.com/lovestamps/

Background:

Hearts Blossom is the latest stamp in the Love series from the U.S. Postal Service. The stamp art features the word “Love” in cursive script below 12 colorful hearts. The color palette — red, purple, orange, and pink — is intended to create a happy and positive feeling. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp.

The Postal Service has successfully captured the essence of love ever since issuing the first stamp in the series in 1973. Although the stamps are released early inthe year, they are not just for Valentine’s Day but can be used to deliver love during any season.

Added December 21st:

On January 10, 2019, in San Juan, PR, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Hearts Blossom stamp (Forever priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 565000). The stamp will go on sale nationwide January 10, 2019, and must not be sold or cancelled before the first-day-of-issue.

Hearts Blossom is the latest stamp in the Love series from the U.S. Postal Service. The stamp art features the word ìLoveî in cursive script below 12 colorful hearts meant to visually express loveís joyful, bountiful nature. The color palette — red, purple, orange, and pink — is intended to create a happy, positive feeling. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 565000, Hearts Blossom (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Pane of 20 Stamps: Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
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 usps.com/shop. 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 – Hearts Blossom 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 10, 2019.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Hearts Blossom Stamp
Item Number: 565000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Love
Issue Date & City: January 10, 2019, San Juan, PR 00909
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Typographer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 300,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Pantone 429, Pantone 144, Pantone 225, Pantone 199, Pantone 254
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in./19.558 x 26.67 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in./23.114 x 30.226 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.425 x 5.635 in./137.795 x 143.129 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 10.85 x 22.54 in./275.59 x 572.516 mm
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners of pane
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (565000) • Plate position diagram • Promotional text

Updated December 24th:

Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:

The Digital Color postmark measures 2.78″x1.30″. The B&W pictorial measures 2.94″x1.48″.