The site is running a Valentine's Day campaign based on the idea that handwritten love letters "mean so much more" than electronic versions.

Until 8 February, visitors to eHarmony's Facebook page can type romantic messages that will then be transcribed by calligraphers and sealed in personally addressed envelopes to be delivered in time for Valentine’s Day.

Pegasus Print Group used its Fuji Xerox Color 1000 to print 1,500 A4 letterheads on 100gsm Saxton Chardonnay stock supplied by Spicers Paper.

According to research commissioned by eHarmony, more Australians would prefer to receive a handwritten love letter (27%) than a bunch of flowers (23%). Yet only 13% of the 24 million Valentine’s Day messages expected to be sent in Australia this year will be handwritten love letters.

Anna Musson, eHarmony spokesperson, said that "on what is the most romantic day of the year, a handwritten love letter will mean so much more than an SMS".

"Love letters were once the glue that held relationships together. Now, handwritten letters have become almost obsolete – receiving one in the mail is a pleasant surprise rather than a regularity," she said.

"But the fact is, we still love receiving a handwritten note!"

Australia Post spokesperson Melanie Ward said although fewer letters were being sent, they were still more highly regarded than electronic communication.

"It’s such a nice surprise to see a handwritten letter poking out from the pile of bills. The tangibility means that you can treasure them forever, keep them to show your children and grandchildren – a text message just can’t compete with that.”

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