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Pitcairn

Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands

image by Zoltan Horvath, 2 September 2024
Flag adopted 2 April 1984, coat of arms adopted 4 November 1969

Blue Ensign
Colours
Coat of arms
Governor's flag

See also:

Blue Ensign

Pitcairn Island's flag is a Blue Ensign with the island's Coat of Arms in the centre. The design was suggested by the Pitcairn Island Council in December 1980 and approved by HM The Queen in April 1984. The flag was flown on Pitcairn for the first time in May 1984, during a visit by the Governor the late Sir Richard Stratton. The flag measures 6' x 3'.
The description of Pitcairn's Coat of Arms, which was granted by Royal Warrant dated 4th November 1969: Azure on a Pile in base Vert fimbriated Or a representation of the Bounty Bible proper and in base of the Anchor of H.M.S. Bounty Or. And for the Crest on a Wreath Or and Vert on a Mount Vert a representation of the Pitcairn Island Wheelbarrow in front of a Slip of Miro leaved and fructed proper.
Information received by letter of 2 August 1996 from the Office of the Governor of Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Island in Auckland, New Zealand.
Jos Poels, 7 August 1996

The flag of Pitcairn is pictured in the book "The Flags" by Eric Inglefield in the 1970s. He reported that the flag was hoisted in 1970, when the islands became a separate territory. Was it an unofficial flag between 1970 and 1984?.
Jaume Ollé, 10 August 1996

I think Eric Inglefield was wrong. I possess a letter from the Public Relations Officer of Pitcairn - Irma Christian (yes-yes, a descendant of THE Christian!) - of 11 March 1981, where he states: "I regret to inform you that we have not a flag of our own. It was once planned to have our own designed flag but at the time the cost seemed so expensive that nothing further was done."
Jos Poels, 12 August 1997

Why is the ring of the anchor not at the top of the shank, and what does the white rectangle above the anchor represent?
David Prothero, 25 May 2007

I drew the anchor from Graham Bartram's illustration which also lines up with the Pitcairn Islands ensign I have in my collection. In both cases, the ring is to the side.
Clay Moss, 26 May 2007

Colours

I haven’t found any legal document on color specification of flag.

Other sources for colors:

The Olympic Flag Manuals don’t illustrate this flag, because Pitcairn Islands is not member of IOC or IPC.

The French Navy Books give an illustration, but there is no any color specification.

Vexilla Mundi gives colors in Pantone system: PMS 281C (blue), PMS 186C (red), and PMS White.

Wikipedia illustrates the flag, but doesn’t give any color specification.

Flag Color Codes gives the following color values:
Red: Hex # C8102E, RGB 200-16-46, CMYK 0-92-77-22, Pantone 186 C, RAL 3028
White: Hex #FFFFFF, RGB 255-255-255, CMYK 0-0-0-0, Pantone N/A, RAL N/A
Blue: Hex # 012169, RGB 1-33-105, CMYK 99-69-0-59, Pantone 280 C, RAL 5026
Green: Hex # 337321, RGB 51-115-33, CMYK 56-0-71-55, Pantone 364 C, RAL 6001
Yellow: Hex # F7E017, RGB 247-224-23, CMYK 0-9-91-3, Pantone 107 C, RAL 1018
Light Blue: Hex # 006EC7, RGB 0-110-199, CMYK 100-45-0-22, Pantone 2175 C, RAL 5015
Black: Hex # 000000, RGB 0-0-0, CMYK 0-0-0-100, Pantone Black 6 C, RAL 9005
Grey: Hex # 96877D, RGB 150-135-125, CMYK 0-10-17-41, Pantone Warm Gray 7 C, RAL 7030

Zoltan Horvath, 2 September 2024

Coat of arms

image located by Zoltan Horvath, 2 September 2024

The coat of arms features several symbols relevant to the ancestral history and culture of the Pitcairn Islanders, most of whom are descended from the sailors who mutinied on HMS Bounty in 1789: the blue, yellow and green of the shield symbolise the island of Pitcairn rising from the Pacific Ocean, while the anchor and Bible are symbols of the Bounty. Additionally, the Bible symbolises Christianity, which the mutineers brought to the island. The shield is surrounded by a green and gold wreath, and crested by a helmet bearing a wheelbarrow and a slip of miro, a local tree, which represent the role agriculture played in helping the mutineers survive on the island. The slip of miro also represents the wood used by Pitcairn Islanders for crafting souvenirs.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_and_coat_of_arms_of_the_Pitcairn_Islands#Coat_of_arms
Zoltan Horvath, 2 September 2024

Blazon:

"Azure on a Pile in base Vert fimbriated Or a representation of the Bounty Bible proper and in base of the Anchor of H.M.S. Bounty Or. And for the Crest on a Wreath Or and Vert on a Mount Vert a representation of the Pitcairn Island Wheelbarrow in front of a Slip of Miro leaved and fructed proper.'
Christopher Southworth, 9 October 2024

Governor's Flag

image by Zoltan Horvath, 2 September 2024

The British High Commissioner to New Zealand is Governor of Pitcairn. I guess that he must go there once in a while, and has a flag for the occasion. He is probably entitled to fly the flag of Governor of the Pitcairn Islands only when he is within the political limits of the islands.
David Prothero, 15 July 2002

The Commonwealth Flag Project & Commonwealth Disaster Relief Scheme in the UK holds the only collection of Vice-Regal flags of the Queens Representatives in the world, including that of the Governor of Pitcairn. With the generous help of the Governor Vicki Tredell CMG CVO and Ginny Silva - Deputy Governor and Territorial authorising Officer. We have just recently taken possession of what must be the only one.
Johnnie Amos, 20 January 2012