POSTCARD N.111 - MALTA

Postcard sent on the 13th August; received on the 21st August 2023

Postcard image: Aerial view of St. Paul's Bay  
__________________________________________________________________________________

In his periplus through the Maltese archipelago, Alex kindly sent me also a nice postcard with an aerial view of the region around St. Paul's bay, one of the more tourist sought areas in the Island.

Alex used a stamp of the, the Maltese SEPAC 2022 issue, devoted to Local beverages.

The 1,40 € stamp, part of a four stamp set, all transmitting an idea of vintage advertising posters, is iollustrated wiyh the image of a bottle of Bajtra Liqueur. A popular local beverage made from the fruits of the Prockly pear, which also feature on the background, as well as the skyline of the village of Mdina.

The neat Postmar tells us that the card was maild from the town it depicts - Saint Paul's bay or San Pawl il-Bahar, in Maltese.

COVER N. 303 - MALTA

Postmark: Malta Post Ghajnsielem 12.08.23

Posted on the 12th August; Received on the 21st August 2023

_________________________________________________________________________________

Hot and humid Malta... at least according to my recollection of the Mediterranean archipelago I visited quite a few years ago.  So dense was the air that I felt i was banging my head  into a wall, as soon as I left the controlled environment of the Air Malta 737 I flew in from Lisbon, to breath the first breaths of Maltese air....sweat... all my pores were instantaneously open.... a flood that would drench me for the entire week or so I spent there whenever I left the freshness of the air conditioned hotel room...

I would love to visit again though. There's much to like in Malta, both man-made and natural, but I'll be sure to do it in a lesser aggressive month than July, as last time.... May, may be a good choice... spring is always a good choice.

Phantoms are not prey to such mundane human problems tough and 90+% of humidity in 30+º centigrade do not seem to affect them, so I was not that startled to receive this nice cover from the Ghost that walks, posted from Ghajnsielem, in the island of Gozo, the second largest of the Maltese Archipelago.

Thanks a lot Alex. 

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Malta's own Comic Con, Malta post issued a three stamp set illustrated by well known comic artists, depicting scenes with comic heroes, in Maltese related environment.

The 0,05€ stamp of this set, on the cover, was designed by local artist and co-founder of Malta Comic Con Fabio Agius, and sets an armored soldier fighting a dragon in the pre-historic ruins of the Hagar Qim temple, on Malta's South West coast.

Malta is well know for its classic buses, which were in later years finally replaced by contemporary, and I believe much more fuel efficient, versions.

Over the years Malta Post has issued several sets dedicated to the theme and the 1€ stamp is part of the  2022 issue, comprising 4 stamps (0,30; 0,51; 0,59; 1 €), which began to circulate on 12FEB2022. 

The stamp shows a Ford Thames in the green Sliema Livery (it seems that according to the city they were based in, the colour of the buses changed, and I do have a distinct remembrance of the buses at the place where I was staying -  Sliema - being green). Aside from green,  I remember seeing red, and yellow (at the very least) buses.

On 28JUL2023, Malta Post issued a very nice 5 stamp set dedicated to Marine Life of the Mediterranean (0.01; 0.10; 0.20; 0.50; 2.50 €).

Two of these are on the cover: 

 - the 0.20 € stamp is illustrated with an image of  a sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), of which a small resident population still roans the Mediterranean waters;

 - the 0,10 € depicts a  Spinetail Devil Ray - Mobula mobular whose body can reach a width of up to 5 metres, being a species under legal protection in Malta.

all the stamps are cancelled by a very neatly applied postmark from the postal office off  Ghajnsielem, in the island of Gozo.

COVER N. 240 - MALTA

Postmark: Marsa Malta -  18.04.2023 

Posted on the 18th April; Received on the 26th April 2023
_________________________________________________________________________________

Marsaxlokk.... my wife and I waiting at the bus stop, after an afternoon strolling along the waterfront and dinner in one of its many restaurants (probably the cheapest...)... - spaghetti with mussels and two rather overcooked rachitic shrimps, If I remember correctly -  and the bus wouldn't come..

...and yet it was not that late,   the sun had not gone down.... 

We were seriously beginning to think that we'd have to find another way of returning to  Sliema....we did not have much money with us (or without us, for that matter....) so a taxi was out of the question....

Suddenly, coming from the end of the road a growing sonic disturbance began to impinge on the late day still air ... ah ah!, we're safe... it's the bus... the last for the day, as the driver would confirm as we boarded and asked.

To this day, I never went anywhere again by public transportation without first checking the appropriate transport schedule.

I can't really remember, at the time, there was a great variety of Bus types operating, but the one we took back to the hotel, might have been quite similar to the one  on the stamp on the cover that Albert sent me. Thanks a great lot, Albert!

Stamps, Left to right:

 - Malta buses are as famous as Cuba's American cars. Over the years, since the introduction of buses on the Islands of the archipelago, in the beginning of the 20th century, many were the types, all single deckers, I believe, that circulated in Malta and Gozo. Many would carry on to the second half of the 20th century, well into the last decades,  parading their classic complexions and shapes all along the sun drenched roads.... Malta can be very hot and humid... these buses had no air conditioning, but ridding on them with the guillotine windows fully open was a treat! 

Things have changed, though, and even if  one might miss the rather photogenic silhouettes of the old buses, ridding inside modern and air conditioned buses, protected from the 30º C and 90% humidity outside, is certainly much more comfortable...

Yet, wisely, the characteristic buses of yore were not all scrapped, I read, and in the wake of a huge restructuration of the public transport sector, many of the old buses are now still running, but as restored heritage pieces. Well done, Malta!

Acknowledging the importance of the Bus as a tourist icon, Malta Post, over the years, has issued several sets dedicated to the theme.

The 1 € stamp on the cover is part of the 2002 issue, comprising 4 stamps (0,30; 0,51; 0,59; 1 €), which began to circulate on 12FEB2022. 

The bus on the 1 € stamp is a Ford Thames in the green Sliema Livery (it seems that according to the city they were based in, the colour of the buses changed, and I do have a distinct remembrance of the buses at the place where I was staying -  Sliema - being green. Aside from green,  I remember seeing red, and yellow (at the very least) buses.

- The 0.05 € stamp, is part of a definitive issue which began to circulate on 29DEC2009, comprising 17 stamps, which were also issued together in a souvenir sheet. it depicts a stone carving from the late temple period, this period having taken place between  approximately 5.8 to 4.3 thousand years ago. 

- The 0,35 £ stamp is part of a 4 stamp set (0,09; 0,35; 2.5; 3 €)  issued on 28APR2009, themed on  Vintage Postal Transport and it is illustrated by my friends, Messrs. Postmen, leaving for the distribution run mounted on their – colorised - motorbikes. 

The postmark is rather hard to decipher but Marsa is clearly legible in one of them, and the date of expedition can also be deciphered.

COVER N.167 - MALTA

Postmark: Marsa Malta 16SEP22  
Posted on the 16th September; received on the 30th September 2022
__________________________________________________________________________________

Every day, when I'm at home, I anxiously wait for the sound of a motorbike running through my street in stop and go mode. The best days are those like last Friday, when the noise of the motorbike's engine on idle sounds for a few moments by my door, followed by the metallic "clonk" sound of the flap of the letterbox hitting its resting spot.

On those days I hurry to the outside and nervously turn the key on the letterbox lock.... 

This time it was a nice cover from Malta. Thanks a lot Albert.

Stamps, Left to right:

- On the 10th June 1922, Malta's Meteorological Office was established and it recorded its first official weather observation at 7.00 am: 27.3 Celsius, good visibility and Force 2 West Northwesterly wind.

Since then, 100 years of inestimable services to the population in general and to the sectors that rely heavily on meteo information, like aviation, be it civil or military, have been ensured by a dedicated team operating from Malta International Airport.

Celebrating the centenary of  the Meteorological Office, Malta Post issued on 01JUN2022 a three stamp set (0,07; 0.37 and 1,25 €) illustrated with weather icons, of which the first two can be seen on my cover.

- In 2013, Malta Post started a stamp series dedicated to local fountains, which would see two three stamp sets being issued, one in 2013 and the other in 2014, although all the stamps bear the 2013 imprinted date.

The 2014 issue with 0,42€, 0,59 and 1,25 € stamps began to circulate on 03JAN2014. The 0,59€ stamp on my cover depicts a fountain located in the San Anton Gardens, in the town of Attard, in the centre of Malta Island,. The gardens are part of the complex where the Presidential palace, also called San Anton Palace, is located.

 - Another centenary, that of the Society of Christian Doctrine, or M.U.S.E.U.M. is the subject of the last stamp on the envelope. The Society is an organisation founded in 1907 by a Priest named George Preca, now Saint George Preca, with the aim of "using lay men and women to serve the Church, primarily by helping them lead a truly Christian life and a dedication to evangelisation" as can be read on the society's website. 

The acronym for which it is known translates into  Magister Utinam Sequatur Evangelium Universus Mundus, or in  English: Divine Teacher may the whole world follow the Gospel.

The 0,21€ stamp on my cover is part of a five stamp set (0,01; 0,21;0,37; 1;2 €) dedicated to Anniversaries and Personalities, issued on 29DEC2007.

The postmark is hardly legible, but it is possible to confirm that the cover was mailed from Marsa, where the head office of Malta post is located.

COVER N.114 - MALTA

Postmark:  Malta Post - Msida  06MAR22
Posted on the 6th March; received on the 17th May 2022
__________________________________________________________________________________

A cover with two fine motives for stisfaction: it was sent by a fellow countrymen and it allows me to add another country to my philatelic atlas. Muito Obrigado Eduardo!

Malta, the tiny Mediterranean archipelago. I once visited the Maltese archipelago during the month of August (or was it late July? It was quite a long time ago and I can't precisely remember it now). The moment I walked out of Air Malta's 737, I felt like I was hitting a wall, so dense and humid was the air. This state of affairs would not change the full length of our stay and it made what should be a very enjoyable visit, a bit of a tribulation, but I did love it anyway (general availability of cold beer did help... I guess 😀)

There's so many things to enjoy in Malta, the sights, (Malta is an architectural  showroom, with relevant constructions, mainly of religious, defence and administrative character raging from pre-historic times to 20th century modernism),  the sea, the history, the fishing villages, the people, of course,  even the old historic buses... but take my word for it, if you're not used to warm and humid climates, avoid the summer months 😀😀

As a side note,  Malta does have a historical connection to my own country: the Maltese islands,  from 1530 up until the 19th century, were governed by the Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem. It so happens that at least three of the Grand Masters of the order and inherently the rullers of the country were Portuguese nobleman:

Luis Mendes de Vasconcellos - 1623
António Manoel de Vilhena. - 1722 to 1736
Manuel Pinto de Fonseca - 1741 to 1773.

Stamps, left to right:

ON 16SEP2009, Malta post issued a 4 stamp set with 0.02, 0.07, 0.37 and 1.02€ denominations showcasing some landscapes of the Archipelago. 

Malta is a  Member of SEPAC - Small European Postal Administrations Cooperations - whose members (currently 13) yearly issue a stamp subordinated to a common theme. The theme for 2009 was "Scenery" and  the stamp on my cover was the Maltese entry for the year, as clearly indicated by the inclusion of the SEPAC logo on the bottom right of the stamp that feature a photo of the Xwejni saltpans, in the island of  Gozo.

The theme for the 2019 SEPAC emission was "Old residential houses" and on 30JUL2019, Malta Post issued a four stamp set (0.10, 0.59, 0.63 and 1.00€) subordinated to the theme, the honour of carrying the SEPAC logo falling on the 0,59€ stamp.

The stamp on my cover is the highest value of the set, which is illustrated with a photograph of the Bubaqra Tower, a fortified house, located in Żurrieq, island of Malta, erected in the late 16th century (didn't I tell you that Malta has a lot to offer to Architecture fans...?)