2017-07-04 Tue

Amonute, the most loved daughter of the Powerful chief of the Algonquian Indians in the Tidewater region of Virginia was nicknamed “Pocahontas” owing to her ‘playful nature’. Her love story is perhaps one of the most famous ones and that is why Nevis Postal Office and Maldives Post have issued stamps to commemorate their love.

Nevis Postal office released the animated stamp worth 2 East Caribbean Dollar (XCD) portraying the Disney Princess Pocahontas and John Smith in a heart. On the other hand, Maldives Post issued a souvenir sheet worth 15 Maldivian Rufiyaa portraying Donald Duck as Pocahontas, John Smith and the chief as well.

Around 1607, English settlements started arriving in Virginia and establishing their settlements. It was then that Pocahontas saw John Smith, a leading convoy, and liked him the most. It is believed when John Smith was leading an expedition in December 1607 Powhatan hunters captured him and brought him to Werowocomoco, one of the chief villages of the Powhatan Empire. When he was being executed, Pocahontas jumped on him and saved his life. Her father adopted Smith as his son.

Pocahontas, after this incident, made frequent visits to the Jamestown and passed on to the Englishmen messages of her father. In 1608, Pocahontas is said to have saved Smith a second time. Smith and some other colonists were invited by Chief Powhatan on friendly terms, but Pocahontas came to the hut where the English were staying and warned them that Powhatan was planning to kill them. Due to this warning, the English stayed on their guard, and the attack never came.

In October 1609, after getting badly injured due to gunpowder explosion, John Smith returned to England. When Pocahontas made a visit to the fort, she was informed that Smith was dead. She was heartbroken. But, in early 1617, Pocahontas made a visit to London, where she met Smith after eight long years and was shocked to see him alive. She is said to have been greatly grieved at not being able to marry her first love. It was their last meeting. It is said that overcome by emotion and recollections, while on a return voyage to Virginia, she died of a broken heart shortly afterwards in March on board.

Mintage World is proud to present a stamp set of eternal love stories depicted on stamps like Orpheus and Eurydice, Eros and Psyche, Napoleon and Josephine and Paris and Helen. Read on!