Special cards to mark philatelic exhibition

Maltapost will issue two Occasion Cards both denominated 51c to commemorate its philatelic bureau's 40th anniversary at the Maltex Philatelic exhibition which will be held at Le Meridien Phoenicia Hotel Floriana between Friday and Sunday.

The cards feature a pen drawing by Alfred Caruana Ruggier after an old French print, showing the first attempt at producing a device designed for flying by the Montgolfier brothers at Annonay on June 4 1783. A special hand-stamp will be used with these cards.

The same hand-stamp will be used to cancel the personalised stamps commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Philatelic Society and the Commemorative Cover which is being issued for this occasion. The cover and the personalised stamps will only be available at the exhibition.

The Occasion Cards will be available from all Maltapost outlets and from the temporary branch post office during the exhibition's opening hours at Le Meridien Phoenicia.

Mail posted at the branch office will be cancelled with the Maltex special cancellation inscribed MALTEX 2006, 6 - 8 October, Le Meridien, Floriana, Malta and will carry the exhibition logo.

The branch will be open on Friday and Saturday, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. and between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday.