Wedding Series : Vintage Rose Forever Stamp 2015
The 2015 Weddings Forever stamp features a rose, a timeless symbol of love, chosen for its universal representation of romance. This stamp was specifically designed for use on wedding RSVP cards and thank-you notes. Accompanying the rose stamp, a two-ounce rate Vintage Tulip stamp was also issued for wedding invitations and greeting cards requiring additional postage.
Historical Significance of the Rose:
While roses have long been associated with romance in Greek and Roman mythology, it was during the Victorian era that the rose became firmly established as a symbol of love. In this period, characterized by high moral standards, the secret language of flowers, or floriography, emerged. This allowed people to communicate sentiments that were otherwise too inappropriate to express openly.
Different flowers were assigned specific meanings, and dictionaries were created to interpret these floral messages. A bouquet or single flower could convey a range of emotions: white roses symbolized innocence, orange represented desire, pink indicated admiration, and purple denoted enchantment. The red rose, synonymous with love and enduring passion, retains its significance to this day.
Design and Production:
Jeanne Greco designed the Vintage Rose stamp, drawing inspiration from the engraved plates of Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717), a renowned naturalist artist. Greco incorporated a small, dark red heart into the design for a touch of color. Unlike most modern stamps, which are lithographed, this stamp was produced using the engraving technique.
Weddings Series:
The Vintage Rose and Vintage Tulip stamps are part of the popular Weddings series, which began in 2004. These stamps are issued in pairs, with one stamp covering the first-class mail rate and the other catering to the two-ounce rate, making them perfect for various wedding mailing needs.
