History of bands on stamps

Maltapost will issue a set of five stamps depicting Maltese bands on Tuesday.

Designed by Joe Mark Micallef, the set portrays different aspects of the history of Maltese bands. The stamps' face values are 4c/€0.09, 15c/€0.35, 21c/€0.49, 22c/€0.51 and Lm1/€2.33.

A number of bands in several towns and villages in the Maltese islands came into being towards the middle of the 19th century. The British had been in Malta for half a century and the local population used to thoroughly enjoy watching military parades.

Besides, numerous Maltese were in employment with the services and were therefore familiar with British bands. A number of Maltese were also bandsmen in British bands. These bandsmen sowed the seeds that led to the setting up of bands in their towns and villages, mainly with the idea of participating in village feasts.

The stamps are available, in mint or cancelled format, as first day covers, souvenir folders and presentation packs from all Maltapost postal retail outlets in Malta and Gozo, from the mobile unit and from the Maltapost Philatelic Bureau (2596 1747, e-mail philately@maltapost.com.

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