Visit to the Malta Postal Museum

The Malta Postal Museum in Archbishop Street, Valletta, welcomed members of the Rotary Club la Velette for a curated tour highlighting Malta’s rich postal heritage. The museum, known for its meticulous presentation and preservation standards, showcases the evolution of postal services from the early British period to the present day. Curator Lara Bugeja Strickland B.A, M.A., who has overseen the collection’s development over several years, guided the group through four floors of exhibits, offering detailed explanations and historical context.

The museum’s stamp collection is central to the experience. Stamps are displayed on illuminated panels, beginning with the earliest issues such as the Penny Black, described in the document as “a simple small square without indentation.” Every stamp ever issued in Malta is represented, and for each one displayed, two identical copies are preserved in the museum’s secure archive. Special attention is given to the celebrated designs of Emvin Cremona, whose artistic contributions from the 1960s onward are considered among the most striking in Malta’s philatelic history.

Beyond stamps, the museum presents a wide range of postal artefacts. Historic post boxes bearing royal coats of arms, original uniforms, and reconstructed post office counters illustrate how postal services operated in earlier decades. Showcases also contain rare correspondence, including letters written by Lord Nelson Bronte, as well as documents from the Crimean War era, when Malta became known as “The Nurse of the Mediterranean.” Additional wartime letters from the First and Second World Wars provide insight into communication during periods of conflict.

The visit concluded with words of appreciation from Club President, Clare Vassallo, for Curator Bugeja Strickland’s knowledgeable guidance and hospitality. Participants described the experience as an opportunity to view history from an unexpected angle, gaining a deeper understanding of how communication, logistics, and design intersected in Malta’s postal past. “This visit”, she said, “was an eye opener, a look at history from an unusual perspective”. Refreshments were offered at the end of the tour.

This cultural visit underscored the museum’s role as a valuable institution that preserves national heritage and offers the public an engaging way to explore the evolution of correspondence, design, and communication technologies.