Description
2024 Love – Love Series
• Pictures one of the most well-known symbols of love – a white dove
• 2024 addition to the popular Love stamp series
History the stamp represents: Many interesting symbols have come to represent love throughout history. The stories behind these symbols can be fun to explore. For example, why are doves often pictured on Valentine’s Day cards and other messages of affection?
In ancient Greek mythology, the dove was symbolic of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. This may be because doves are known to be quite devoted to their mates. Male doves help the females raise their young and some species are known to mate for life.
However, there is another possible reason why Aphrodite is associated with doves. It’s said she and her son Eros (god of love) were participating in a flower-picking contest. A nymph named Peristera helped Aphrodite win, and Eros turned the nymph into a dove in anger. Aphrodite decided to take care of the dove and make it her sacred bird as a thank you for helping her win the contest.
To this day, pottery and other artwork picturing the goddess of love often show her with doves nearby. Her temples even included statues of the birds. It’s no surprise, then, that doves have becomes symbols of love all on their own.
5 Sheets of 100 First-Class Forever® USPS postage stamps. *The slash over “Forever” in the image is to protect it from being used to produce counterfeit postage. Actual stamps will not have this.
