Category: Malta

For Christmas 2022, MaltaPost has issued two stamps together with a miniature sheet which also bears two stamps within it. Set as “Santa’s Workshop”, the miniature sheet was designed by Fabio Agius, a long-time staff member of the company. The busy workshop is set inside a wintry landscape as Santa busies himself reading a letter in front of a roaring fire. Elves are painting toys and packing sacks ready for their Christmas Eve delivery, while garlands, wreaths, candy sticks and bells animate the cosy scene. The two stamps depict Santa in his chair with one of the elves opening a shiny red letterbox.

In a departure from the more traditional choice of theme, this stamp issue by MaltaPost is taken squarely from the contemporary world of comics. The artworks have been selected from Impressions of an Island – a publication by Heritage Malta in collaboration with Wicked Comics. They illustrate three images, all of which refer in some way, to our local culture.

Impressions of an Island marks the 10^th anniversary of the annual Malta Comic Convention and showcases diverse comic-art renditions of Malta as seen through the eyes of several international and local artists. Their creations range from post-apocalyptic views to traditional images and from comedy to horror. This issue features three stamps with iconic scenery and superheroes inspired by the local culture and landscape.

The first stamp in the series is designed by MaltaPost staff member Fabio Agius who is a well-known comic artist and writer, a co-founder of the Malta Comic Con and co-author of The Golden Lizard – Malta’s first graphic novel. His stamp is inspired by the prehistoric Hagar Qim temple and combines his love of drawing and rich colour in the inky sky, the figures of the towering dragon and lone soldier readying himself for battle.

The next stamp is designed by UK-based comic artist Lee Townsend. Townsend has worked for some of the biggest names in comics and his prolific output has seen him design for Marvel, Disney and Dreamworks. Townsend’s stamp is largely inspired by the gardjola at Fort St. Angelo and there, launching himself off the bastions with Sliema in the background, is a muscular, red, and white Maltese superhero!

Italian born Mario Torrisi is a well-established artist within the international comic-art world and is at present pursuing his dream of working with some of the world’s top comic publishers. Responsible for the stamp depicting the fishing couple with their kelb tal-fenek, he draws inspiration from the sea, the rock, old local costumes, and the care-free youngsters all set against a scorching sun.

All three stamps bear the distinctive Malta Comic Con logo designed by Joseph Bugeja.

Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in London on April 21 1926, the elder daughter of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.

As the child of a younger son of King George V, she had little prospect of acceding to the throne. However , once her uncle Edward VIII abdicated on December 11, 1936, her father became King George VI and , she , in turn , the heir presumptive.

In a radio address to the Commonwealth in 1947, on her 21st birthday, she said: “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”

On 20 November 1947, she married Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey, in a relatively simple ceremony as the country was still recovering from the ravages of World War II.

Princess Elizabeth gave birth to Prince Charles in 1948 and to Princess Anne two years later. Prince Andrew and Prince Edward were born in 1960 and 1964 respectively. As Prince Philip’s naval wife, off and on between 1949 and 1951, Princess Elizabeth lived in Malta, mainly at Villa Guardamangia, Pietà.

In the summer of 1951, the health of King George VI entered into serious decline. In January 1952 the Princess and Prince set out on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, but en route, at Sagana, Kenya, news reached them of the King’s death on February 6, 1952. Elizabeth age 25, now Queen, at once flew back to England. Her coronation was held at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953.

At the time of her death, Queen Elizabeth held a number of other titles, which have now automatically passed to her son and heir, King Charles III.

She was head of the Commonwealth, commander-in-chief of the British Armed Forces, and supreme governor of the Church of England. She was also patron of more than 600 charities and organisations.

In 2015, she also became the longest-serving British monarch in history, passing the record set by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. As head of state and head of nation, Queen Elizabeth II was widely regarded as a symbol of stability, working tirelessly to ensure the monarchy remained relevant during a period of immense social, technological, and economic change.

The Queen’s reign saw 15 different UK prime ministers, from Winston Churchill to Liz Truss. Away from her official duties, she was a devoted wife and mother, and dedicated grandmother to eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was a monarch without equal.

Date Of Issue: 19 Sep 2022
Designer: MaltaPost p.l.c
Perforation: pva
Process: offset
Sheet: Miniature Sheet bearing 1 stamp
Denominations: 5.00
Watermark: Maltese Crosses
Size: Sheet Size 120mm x 80mm