The Wedding Month
May 2002
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Marriage is the theme for this month of May column -- in part because so many weddings take place this month and next and also in honor of the wedding anniversary of my daughter Mandy and son-in-law Don.
A number of Judaica stamps can help tell the story of a wedding -- the ceremony, the romance and the relationship. (I'm sure that collectors specializing in other kinds of topical collecting can find other stamps with which to tell the story of their marriage).
Before there can be a marriage there has to be a courtship. In today's
world this is usually left to the initiative of the principal parties. Still, in some parts of the world, arranged marriages still occur. At least one arranged marriage encounter has made it into art -- and onto stamps. Abraham sent his servant Eliezer to find a wife for his son Isaac. 
The scene of his meeting with Rebecca at the well has been depicted by several artists. Murillo's version appeared on Rwanda #212, and #216 -- issued in May 1967 -- as well as on Spain #922. Tiepolo's version (with the characters wearing contemporary clothes)
appeared on Ghana #1515f; a statue of Rebecca at the well appeared on Colombia #CS78-9.
At some point the couple become lovers. Marc Chagall (1887-1985) used this theme frequently after he fell in love (and married). Since he was the focus of a multi-nation omnibus set in 1986-7, with more than 125 stamps issued (100 from Grenada and its Grenadines alone), several of these paintings are available on stamps. These include: "Lovers in the Moonlight" and "Lovers in the Lilac" on Grenada #1442 and #1460, respectively.
Leading Up to the Big Day
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© 2002, J-Stamps/Murray Frost. All Rights Reserved.
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