Front:
LOVE
YORK,
USA22
JAN
30
1986
10001
lom
LOVE
NY
Back:
LOVE
First Day of Issue: January 30, 1986
First Issue Location: New York, New York
The most powerful of all emotions, love has been the
subject of great works of art, literature and song for
centuries. But perhaps the most enduring of all celebra-
tions of love is Valentine's Day. A festival of romance
and affection, Valentine's Day is named after one of two
Christian saints named Valentine. However, the customs
of the holiday most likely come from an ancient Roman
festival called Lupercalia, which took place every Feb-
ruary 15. Throughout Rome, young men and women
participated in the lover's festival by drawing names by
chance from a box. Then the partners would exchange
gifts as a sign of affection. After the spread of Christianity,
churches tried to add a religious meaning to the ancient
festival, and changed the Lupercalia festival to February
14 and renamed it Saint Valentine's Day. Valentine's
Day became popular in the United States in the 1800s.
In celebration of the festival, young men selected Valen-
tine Cards with sentimental verses. Today, Valentine
Cards remain a cherished part of this festival of love.
No. 86-7
Оy
©1986 The Maximum Card Collection
A Division of Unicover Corporation . Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007
Original painting by Tom Bjarnason
