Stamp Stories

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23053, 22 June 1940, Page 3 (Supplement)

Stamp Stories

Some indication of the long and Interesting history of Malta is provided by the designs of the current pictorial issue.

According to popular belief, reference to Malta is found in the works Homer Under the name of “Hyperion,” but the original settlement .goes back into the very earliest times. Neolithic remains are still to be found On the island, and of these the most interesting are a temple at Mnajdra and the hypogeum, a unique series Of , underground chambers at Hal Saflieni. The temple ruths are to be found On the 4id Value, and the hypogeum on the i|d, From the time of the Phoenicians, who were early colonists, the Maltese Have been seafaring people, ahd during the time of the Homan domination much honour was paid to ISTeptune, the Homan gbd of the sea, A celebrated bronSe statUe of the god is located at Valetta, the capital, and this Statue appears Oh the 2s 6d stamp. Heferencß was made last week to the eonhekiOh of St. Phut with the island of Malta, The present ids stamp contains a full-length portrait of the saint, while on the Is §d St. PUblluS, the first Bishop of Malta is featured;

One of the itidst important periods ,in the history of Malta followed the expulsion of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem from the island of Rhodes. During the First crusade the Order of the Hbspital of St. JOhn Of Jerusalem wis founded, and after the failure of the attempt to oUst the Saraeehs from Palestine, the Knights of St. John established their headquarters at the island of Rhodes in the Aegean Sea, The island was Decupled By the Turks in. 1023, and the Order was then transferred toMalta. The Grand Master, With the Knights of the Order, made a ceremonial entry into the old Capital Ift 1530, and this event IS depicted dh ttfe 2|d value. Inoidefttally it should be noted that the old capital pt Malta is Rnown by three names, Mdiha. NolabiJe. ahd ditta VeCehia. The Knights of St, John are further commemorated in the present issue

MALTA' PICTORIALS

(Bjt R. J. G. Collins}

ridturi in till the Vi ress b

as the 6d value shows a statue of Mandel de Wilagna, who was the Grand Master from 1722 to 1726.

There are two cathedrals in Malta; one is situated at Mdina ana the second is at the present capital, Valetta. Both buildrngs were constructed by the Knights, The Mdina Cathedral is shown on the 2s stamp, and St,. John's Co-Cathedral at Valetta appears on the 3d, Both designs are remarkable in that the buildings are depicted as they appear at night time standing out from their surroundings by reason of the fact that they are flood-lit. The building on the id value is the Verdala palace, built in 1586 by the then Grand Master, The ss shows the Palaee square at Valetta, Valetta''' possesses a fine harbour With extensive fortifications a large arsenal, and ah important dock-yard, and it has a considerable. strategic , importance aS the headquarters of the Mediterranean Fleet, hence the attention which IS being paid to it at present by Italian bombers.

The design on the id stamp showing the Grand Harbour is not new to Maltese stamps* as it was first used for a id value ih January. 1901. The id value is inscribed “H.M.S. St. Angelo,” and one wopld

■ailv expect to find a warship design. Actually, however, jew on the stamp is of a fortaUilt Oft a toflgUe of land which

iUtS but ihtb the Grand Hafßbur. TH§ promontory shares ■ with the island Of ASeeriSioii iti the Atlantic the aistmetibh af. Bemg ranked efficially By the British Navy as a warship. The is value af th§ greseftt set shows a Maltese gift wearing the traditional 'farm of Blatk headeovetihg knoWii as the Fhldetta.