2015 First-Class Forever Stamp - Wedding Series: Engraved Vintage Rose

2015 49¢ Vintage Rose
Weddings Series

The rose was chosen for the 2015 Weddings Forever stamp because it is a universal symbol of love.  This stamp was issued for use on wedding RSVP cards and thank you notes.  A two-ounce rate Vintage Tulip stamp was released at the same time for use on wedding invitations and greeting cards that require extra postage.

Though often connected with romance and passion in Greek and Roman mythology, it wasn’t until the Victorian era that the rose solidified its status as a symbol of love.  At that time of high moral standards, floriography, the secret language of flowers, was used to convey otherwise inappropriate ideas too forbidden to speak about. 

Different flowers were given certain meanings, and dictionaries were published to define the various possible messages.  Feelings could be expressed discreetly through a bouquet or a single flower.  A white rose stood for innocence, orange for desire, pink for admiration, and purple for enchantment.  A red rose suggested love and enduring passion, an association that still holds true today.

Value:  49¢ first class letter rate

Issued:  February 14, 2015

First Day City:  Riverside, CA, at the American Philatelic Society Ameristamp Expo

Type of Stamp: Definitive
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America for Sennett Security Products
Method: Intaglio printing in sheets of 240, with 12 panes of 20
Perforation: Serpentine Die Cut 11

Self-Adhesive:
Quantity Printed: 150,000,000 stamps

Jeanne Greco designed the Vintage Rose stamp using drawings from engraved plates made by Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717), a naturalist artist.  Greco added a small, dark red heart for a touch of color.  This stamp was printed using engraving, unlike most modern stamps that are lithographed.