HMS Pandora Shipwreck artifacts with letter of provenance from Robert F Marx

HMS Pandora "Pandora’s Box" Shipwreck Artifacts – With Provenance from Robert F. Marx

This exceptional lot includes authentic artifacts from the HMS Pandora, the British warship sent to capture the mutineers of the HMS Bounty. After securing the prisoners in wooden box cages, earning the ship the infamous nickname “Pandora’s Box”, the HMS Pandora sank off the coast of Australia in 1791 while en route back to England.

These artifacts come from the renowned collection of Robert J. Marx, a leading authority on shipwrecks, and were later sold to Dr. Kristian Waaben, a maritime historian and close friend of Robert F. Marx and Tom Christian of Pitcairn Island, a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian, the leader of the Mutiny on the Bounty.

Included in This Lot:

• Letter of Provenance & Historical Documentation:
• A copy of a letter from Robert F. Marx, dated April 9, 2001, detailing the HMS Pandora artifacts he sent to Dr. Kristian Waaben.
• A reproduction image of the HMS Pandora.
• A photo of Dr. Kristian Waaben dining with Robert J. Marx and his wife.

Authentic HMS Pandora Artifacts (as listed in the letter):

• Three lead musket balls.
• Three lead pistol balls.
• One musket flint.
• Six copper sheathing nails.
• Three ceramic fragments (two bottle necks, one bottle bottom).
• One glass bottle top.
• One small iron cannonball.

Each artifact remains preserved and securely packaged for protection and transport.

Provenance & Historical Significance:

The HMS Pandora played a critical role in the aftermath of the Mutiny on the Bounty, sent by the British Admiralty to capture and return the mutineers. The ship's tragic sinking in 1791, along with its imprisoned mutineers, solidified its place in maritime history.

For reference, a single HMS Bounty nail sold at auction for £3,813 GBP (approx. $5,000 USD) on November 13, 2013.

This is a rare opportunity to acquire genuine relics from one of the most infamous naval pursuits in history.