A 20-cent Love stamp was issued on February 1, 1982, in Boston, Massachusetts. The Postal Service issued the first Love stamp in 1973, and it proved to be extremely popular. In the years between then and the year of issuance of this stamp, thousands of requests were received by the Postal Service for another Love stamp to be used on such special occasions as Valentine's Day, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and when sending special sentiments to someone special.
Mary Faulconer of New York City, New York, designed the stamp by using flowers as the elements of the letters; the stamp was modeled by Peter Cocci The letter "L" is formed by the miniature red poppy; the "O" by painted daisies and "Johnny-jump-ups" (miniature pansies); the "V" by the cornflower or bachelor's button; and the "E" by coral bells.
Ms. Faulconer also designed the Rose booklet stamps issued in 1978, for which she was awarded a gold medal by the American Rose Society.
The stamp was printed in the photogravure process, with fifty stamps per pane.