Patna, Jan. 3: Those looking for an out-of-the-box romantic gift this Valentine’s Day, just head to the nearest post office.

India Post, in a bid to promote philately in modern day, has introduced a unique scheme, My Post. The customised stamp scheme will help add a personalised touch to traditional letters. The stamps would be released in the first week of February but the registration has already started.

Elaborating on the scheme, Anil Kumar, the director of postal services (business development, technology and marketing), Bihar, said: “My Post can help make the perfect Valentine’s Day gift. It allows an applicant to print his own photograph or those of his friends or relatives, along with the preferred background theme, on a sheet of 12 stamps. Themes for the stamp background include aeroplanes, Panchatantra tales, Taj Mahal, trains, wildlife and zodiac signs. These stamps would be valid across the country. The registration opened yesterday and we have planned to start releasing the personalised stamps by the first week of February. The price has not been fixed but we have already received hundreds of requests.”

Anil said: “These personalised stamps would have two parts — the detachable left-hand side will carry the desired photograph of the applicant and the right-hand part would contain the denomination part based on the chosen theme.”

The personalised stamps would be on display during an exhibition of the philately bureau at the Wheeler Senate Hall of Patna University between February 10 and 12.

Getting these personalised stamps would be easy. “One just needs to register himself with the philately bureau at General Post Office, Patna, and get his photograph clicked there or hand over the desired photograph for printing on the stamp. We intend to issue the personalised stamps the same day. We have sent two officials to Delhi to receive training,” said Anil. Sources said the fee for registering with the philately bureau at GPO, Patna, is Rs 100.

Anil said the Bihar circle plans to run the scheme till February 15. “Though the scheme is expected to end on February 15, we might extend it depending on the response. Applications for the personalised stamps are being accepted at Patna, GPO, but the department plans to launch the same at Muzaffarpur head post office next week. It would also be available at all other district head post offices in the state within the next few weeks,” said Anil.

India Post officials said My Post was launched in a few states after its introduction at the National Philately Exhibition in New Delhi in February last year.