© David Raynal

Since 2000, La Poste has had its Heart stamps designed on the occasion of Valentine's Day by designers from prestigious fashion houses or by famous artists, to magnify and promote French know-how. This year it is the turn of the Cristallerie Saint-Louis to invite designer Hugues Micol to immerse himself in the workshops of his factory, in Moselle, in the heart of the Vosges forest. Renowned for his sensitive and structured line, he composed this design using the emblematic know-how of the manufacture of Saint-Louis crystal. « We are all collectively very proud in Saint-Louis to have been chosen by Philaposte to be part of this adventure which is the launch of the Heart stamp. Saint-Louis is above all men and women with absolutely incomparable know-how. We asked the designer Hugues Micol to go to Saint-Louis, to this factory in the depths of the Moselle, in the regional park of the Vosges du Nord in order to understand and celebrate the know-how of Saint-Louis » underlined in the preamble to the unveiling of the stamp in the Saint-Louis boutique on rue royale in Paris its president Jérôme de Lavergnolle.

Millions of hearts

© Hugues Micol

The glassmakers of the “hot” workshop blow the molten crystal to shape a prelude of form. Nearby, a wand draw lies at the paperweight workshop. In the “cold” workshop, the tailors press their pieces against a grinding wheel under a trickle of cool water. One step after another, the crystal is patiently cut. Assembled at the chandelier, a chandelier takes off and shines in interiors around the world. All you have to do is take out your finest pen to write a few tender words and personalize your mail with La Poste's heart stamp "designed" by the Manufacture Saint-Louis. Millions of hearts each year on envelopes travel the world and become new vectors of love and tenderness. « This year we celebrate the 23rd edition of the Heart stamp. There have been big names who have partnered with La Poste for the edition of this stamp, the first being Yves Saint-Laurent in 2000 but also Hermès in 2013” explained Gilles Livchitz director of Philaposte.

Unveiling ceremony of the stamp at the Saint-Louis boutique in Paris in the presence of its president Jérôme de Lavergnolle and Gilles Livchitz director of Philaposte.©David Raynal

tradition and innovation

In 1767, Louis XV authorized the construction of a glassworks on the site of the former Münzthal glassworks of the 24th century. The king granted it the title of "Royal Glassware of Saint-Louis". Fifteen years later, with the development of the crystal formula, the Manufacture became Cristallerie Saint-Louis. Since then, Saint-Louis has created crystal pieces every day – lighting, tableware, decoration and furniture – made by master glassmakers and master tailors who are among the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France. All are holders of an irreplaceable, ancestral know-how, enriched from generation to generation: mouth-blown crystal, hand-cut, engraved and decorated by hand, with 2022-carat gold or platinum. Their talent has made Saint-Louis an expert in color and size. The United Nations proclaimed XNUMX the “International Year of Glass” highlighting the role of glass in the economic, artistic and cultural fields. Essential to many vital technologies, it beautifies our lives.

Self-adhesive version

© Hugues Micol

It is therefore naturally to the craftsmen and their know-how that Saint-Louis and La Poste have chosen to pay tribute by creating two exceptional stamps illustrating the diversity of the trades of the Cristallerie de Saint-Louis. “We are releasing the Heart stamp on January 31 so that people can buy it a little before and write their love letters for February 14. It is also a stamp that is often chosen by the general public to stamp announcements. This is why we offer two prices at €1,16 for a green letter weighing less than 20 grams and a second at €2,32 for letters or announcements weighing more than 20 grams. It is also for this reason that we offer the Heart stamp in a self-adhesive version because we have customers who buy it by the hundreds” recalled Gilles Livchitz in his presentation.

David Raynal

Technical information

• Product reference 11 22 003 (letter 20g) | 11 22 004 (letter 100g)
• Creation St. Louis
• Presentation 12 stamps per sheet
• Impression Offset
• Stamp Format 38 x 38 mm
• Draw 2 copies | 520 copies
• Face value € 1,16 | € 2,32

Behind the scenes of the printing of the Cœur Saint-Louis stamp

To buy this stamp

The Square of Ink, from 10 a.m. to 17 p.m., 13 bis rue des Mathurins, 75009 Paris. www.lecarredancre.fr

By subscription or by correspondence to: Philaposte Service Clients ZI Avenue Benoît Frachon, BP 10106 Boulazac, 24051 PERIGUEUX CEDEX 09 and on the website www.laposte.fr/boutique