2017-06-02 Fri

The adjacent stamp is a commemorative stamp of Tristan and Isolde issued by Deutsche Post (Germany) in 1933. This stamp has a face value of 20 Reichsmark.

Tristan was born when Rivalin of Parmenie and Princess Blancheflor, sister to King Mark of England had a secret marriage hidden from King Mark. However, his parents died the same day he was born thus being named “Tristan” meaning ‘sorrow’ by his father’s trusted friend Raul. When he was 14, a group of sailors tried to kidnap him but released him as the Gods above started a storm in anger for this cruel act. They left him on the nearest shore, which turned out to Cornwall- the place where King Mark resided.

Soon he became a trusted and loved member of Mark’s court. Four years later Raul who had set sail in search of him reached King Mark’s court where the King learned that Tristan was his nephew and the true heir to the throne. Mark promised to remain celibate for his life in order to protect Tristan’s right to the throne.

One day Tristan challenged Morold, a giant who had been harassing the people of England and collecting huge tributes from them on behalf of his sister Queen Isolde and her husband King Gurmun. In the battle that ensued, Morold was killed and Tristan gravely injured. The only one who could cure him was Queen Isolde. He went to her under a disguised name Tantris. During this time, Princess Isolde the Fair fell for him while Tristan returned home.

Tristan praised Isolde the Fair’s beauty and King Mark fell in love and wanted to marry her. Tristan set sail to Ireland again and this time returned with Isolde, who now knew who he was. Her mother had given Brangaene, her daughter’s aide a bottle of love potion and asked her to make King Mark and Isolde have it. However, as fate would have it, Tristan and Isolde drank it instead and consummated their love. Though King Mark married Isolde, he slept with Brangaene in the dark without knowing.

Soon their love perished and King Mark started doubting his wife and nephew. With a series of false arrangements the two lovers managed to convince King Mark of their loyalty while also continuing their relationship. However, one day, it all became more difficult to hide and Tristan, not wanting to hurt his uncle any further left England. Deep in sorrow, Isolde wished him luck and gave him her ring in remembrance of their eternal love.

He ended on the island of Arundel and started feeling attraction towards Isolde, King Kaedin of Arundel’s sister. He later married her but they never consummated their marriage as he was in confusion which Isolde did he love. When Kaedin heard of this he enquired with Tristan who told him the whole story.

One day Tristan was injured by a poisoned spear and he requested Kaedin to bring Isolde the Fair for only she could heal him. He asked Keadin to set sail with a black and a white boat and to return in the white boat if only Isolde the Fair was accompanying him so that he would know his fate beforehand. However, this conversation was heard by his wife Isolde too. She lied to him that a black boat was sailing back while in reality a white one was coming back with Isolde the Fair in it. Saddened, Tristan voluntarily left his breath and died while Isolde the Fair died seeing him dead. They were buried together. The rose and vine that grew on their tomb encircled each other while pointing towards heaven; they were finally united.

Mintage World is proud to present a stamp set of eternal love stories depicted on stamps like Helen and Paris. Read on!