2019-05-13 Mon

Rotuma Day is an annual celebration on the island of Rotuma which falls on May the 13th.

The island of Rotuma is a Fijian dependency, consisting of Rotuma Island and nearby islets. These volcanic islands were discovered by the British. in 1791 Captain Edward Edwards and the crew of HMS Pandora landed in search of sailors who had disappeared following the Mutiny on the Bounty.

On 13 May 1881, Rotuma was officially ceded to the United Kingdom; seven years after Fiji became a colony. The event is annually celebrated as Rotuma Day. Rotuma is the home of a unique indigenous ethnic group, called the Rotumans. The festivities of Rotuma Day culminate in fine traditional performances and craft show. The stamps shown above feature the discovery of the island by the British Naval Officer.

This set of three stamps was issued in the year 1966 on the 175th Anniversary of the discovery of the Islands. The 3d stamp shows the H.M.S. Pandora and Split Island Rotuma, the stamps with the denomination of 10d feature Rotuma Chiefs and the last stamp denominated 1/6 depicts Rotuma Islanders Welcoming Pandora.

Image Courtesy: https://www.stamps-plus.com

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