HMS Pandora wrecked over 200 years ago, but it lives on in books, coins, stamps and even (alcoholic) spirits. This collection shows how the story’s been recorded and the vessel commemorated by various countries.
The paperback is a 2008 edition of the original account written by Pandora’s captain, the plurally named Edward Edwards, and the ship’s surgeon George Hamilton.
The hardback book, published in 1963, is a ‘rousing account… Set against a background of perilous reefs and uncharted tropical seas’. Its author, sailor and Naval Officer Geoffrey Rawson, settled in Australia after World War I.
Pandora is popular for stamps. These are from Fiji, Tokelau, Norfolk Island and the Pitcairn Islands.
The Fijian dependency of Rotuma is a volcanic island 646 km north of Fiji. The Pandora crew were the first Europeans to sight the island. They found a new (to them) land, but no mutineers.
Nine Bounty mutineers ended up on Pitcairn Island. Pandora came close, Captain Edwards spotted and named the neighbouring Ducie Island, but didn’t find Pitcairn.
This coin is from Tokelau, a dependent territory of New Zealand consisting of three coral atolls in the southern Pacific Ocean. Pandora called there in 1791 to hunt for mutineers.
Frigate rum was made in Australia. Did they choose Pandora for this coaster because it ‘got wrecked’?!
