2006 39c Wedding Doves Bkt pane of 20

U.S. #3998a
2006 39¢ Our Wedding

Booklet Pane of 20

Issue Date: March 2, 2006
City: New York, NY
Printed By: Ashton-Potter

Printing Method: Photogravure

Perforations: 10 ¾ X11

Color: Multicolored

 Each 2006 “Our Wedding” stamp in this booklet pane of 20 features a stylized dove sitting on a branch.

“Two Doves gliding in the air

Two loves free without a care

Two parts of a loving whole

Two hearts and a single soul.”

– (Unknown)

Doves have been a traditional wedding symbol for thousands of years. The dove represented innocence to the ancient Egyptians, love and devotion to the early Greeks and Romans, and peace and longevity to the ancient Chinese.

The Roman goddess of love, Venus, made the dove a sacred animal. A groom gave a dove to the bride to show his commitment to her and her family.

Doves are an appropriate symbol for eternal love since the birds mate for life. In recent years, releasing doves at weddings has become very popular in the U.S., both for the symbolism and for the spectacle.

Of course, the “white doves” that are released at weddings are not doves at all, but white racing pigeons. Unlike real doves, the white pigeons have a homing instinct that ensures they will return to their owners and be cared for.