Is This The Home Of Cupid?
Well, if Cupid was looking to relocate to somewhere quiet and out of the way, he might have chosen Valentine, TX as his new base of operations.
The 2000 census said that there were 187 folks living there -- not counting Cupid, as far as we can determine. But, he has some helpers there that have a Valentine's Day re-mailing program that involves the whole town.
A Postmark From The Heart
If you would like to send your Valentine's cards with the special Valentine, TX postmark, follow these simple steps:♥ Address your cards as you regularly would if you were mailing them yourself (stamp and all).
♥ Put all of your cards into one envelope, and mail them to:
Postmaster
Valentine Re-Mailing Program
Valentine, Texas 79854
♥ For delivery by February 14th, your cards must be received by by February 7th. All letters received after this date will still receive the cachet, but might not be delivered until after Valentine's Day.
A Cachet? What Is A Cachet?
In philately, a cachet is a design or inscription, other than a cancellation or pre-printed postage, on an envelope, postcard, or postal card to commemorate a postal or philatelic event. There are official and private cachets; they commemorate everything from the first flight on a particular route, to the Super Bowl. Cachets are also frequently made, either by private companies or a government, for First day of issue stamp events or 'Second-Day' stamp events. They are often present on event covers.The first cacheted FDC (first day cover) was produced by prominent philatelist and cachetmaker George W. Linn in 1923, for the Harding Memorial stamp issue.
Cachet-making is considered an art form, and cachets may be produced by using any number of methods, including drawing or painting directly onto the envelope, serigraphy, block printing, lithography, engraving, laser printing, attachment of photographs or other paper memorabilia, etc. Frequently flight cachets (which have also been used in space and on the moon) are rubber-stamped.
The largest and best-known cachet-making companies, which typically produce thousands or tens of thousands of printed cachets for U.S. stamp issues, are Artcraft, Fleetwood, House of Farnam, and Colorano.
(...from Wikipedia)
A Brief Overview Of Valentine, Texas
Valentine, Texas On Wikipedia
Valentine is a town in Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States. The population was 187 at the 2000 census. The community was named by the construction crew for the Southern Pacific Railroad, who reached the town site on February 14, 1882. It is in the Central Standard time zone. The latitude of Valentine is 30.587N. The longitude is -104.496W. Elevation is 4,432 feet.
(...from Wikipedia and epodunk)
The Valentine, Texas Valentine Re-Mailing Program
Romantics that request a Valentine postmark for their Valentine's Day card are the type of people who plan ahead. Requests start coming in just after the New Year and before the end of January there are usually trays of Valentines awaiting their stamp and post mark.
The whole town gets involved in the project. The school holds a design contest for 7th to 12th graders and the winner is chosen by the city council. Some kids get their artwork put on the refrigerator - but in Valentine it goes on a world tour. After the winner is announced and the artwork sent to San Antonio for approval, the official (red) impression is made and when the time comes it's placed in the lower left hand corner of the envelope. The regular black postmark of Valentine cancels the stamp.
Valentine's cards for foreign delivery are posted on February 1st to insure enough time to reach the loved one (some postal agencies aren't as efficient as ours). As many as 26 different countries have requested the Valentine, Texas cancellation.
Mailing for cards within the United States begins on the 7th of February, but for for people who ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE an actual February 14th postmark, just notify the postmaster with your request. It will arrive late, but with the all-important date in the postmark.
(...from TexasEscapes.com ; by Phil Lately, Texas Escapes' Gruntled Postal Correspondent)
Now You Can Wear Your Texas Valentine
Where Is Valentine?
It's All About You & Valentine, Texas
New " I Am Famous In Texas " Mug State
Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 10/12/2008)
And, you can be famous in Texas -- or, at least have a cup that says you are.
What's The Weather Like In Valentine, Texas?
Current weather conditions in Valentine, TX (79854)
Local Pollen Reports
63°F (Feels like 63°F)
Last update: 10/12/08 1:55 AM CDT
Humidity: 82%Visibility: 10.0 mi
Dew Point: 57°F
UV Index: 0 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 29.97in steady
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 5mph From: Airport Conditions
Today
Fair
High: 80°F
Low: 53°F
Sunrise: 7:59 AM
Sunset: 7:30 PM
Monday
Oct 13
Scattered T-Storms
High: 77°F
Low: 52°F
Sunrise: 7:59 AM
Sunset: 7:29 PM
Tuesday
Oct 14
Scattered T-Storms
High: 68°F
Low: 52°F
Sunrise: 8:00 AM
Sunset: 7:28 PM
Wednesday
Oct 15
T-Showers
High: 66°F
Low: 49°F
Sunrise: 8:01 AM
Sunset: 7:26 PM
Celebrate Valentine's Day With Texas Wildlife
"Be My Valen-Dillo"
What You Didn't Know About Valentine, TX:
Show Your Love For Texas
What Is Valentine, Texas All About?
Some Hometown Stats On Valentine, Texas
The population of 79854 is 371.
That's #28780 out of all 42,305 zip codes.
60% of the population is white, which is 14 points less than the national average.
The average household income in 79854 is $35,313, which is $5,615 more than the typical average.
This contributes to the average house being worth $17,500. When the survey was done in 2000, that represented a difference of -78% from the typical value.
Men make up 35% of the population, and the typical age in this part of TX is 43.9.
Stats about: Valentine, TX
Population: 371Number of Households: 180
Average House Value: $17,500
Average Income per Household: $35,313
Elevation: 4,688 ft
Population Breakdown:
Are You Ready To Go To Valentine?
El Paso, TX is the closest airport. From this module you can check on flights, cars, and hotels (or any combination).
Valentine, TX On The World Wide Web
- Billings Gazette article on Valentine
- GeoCities article on Valentine
The Perfect Card Comes From The Heart
The perfect card says what is in your heart - and to get that you need to check out the awesome selection of Personalized Valentine's Day Cards, handmade by Crafty-Fox.The "Shiny Love" card shown here is just one of their beautiful designs. Visit the website to see the full selection of cards available.
The Valentine, TX Guest Book
What do you think of the idea of a special postmark for Valentine's Day cards?
Have you ever been to Valentine, TX? (If not, would you like to go?)
Leave me a note with your thoughts, opinions, or questions...or just say hello.
Please -- post no links, they won't be activated. Thanks.
The idea of a special postmark for Valentines day is awesome, I have done it in the past years, this year I sent 10 post cards to family and friends with your remailing program and they thought it was the most beautiful postcard ever, it just truly made my friends and family happy to receive a postcard with your stamp.
I have never been to Valentine, Texas, but would sure love to visit.
Keep up the great work, you make lots of people happy at this time of year.
Ivelisse Vasquez
Posted February 10, 2008
(Valentine's Day 2009 is February 14, 2009)
