Antique maps transferred to Heritage Malta
Heritage Malta today formallyacquired a unique collection of antique maps of Malta which was built over a period of 50 years by lawyer and historian Dr Albert Ganado. The acquisition was made following an agreement signed today between Dr Ganado and the ggovernment. By means of this agreement the map collection was passed to the ggovernment in return for the house, which was public property, where Dr Ganado lives. The acquisition of the priceless collection was approved by Parliament during a sitting held on July 14th.
The maps will be kept in the National Museum of Fine Arts in Valletta. They will not be put on permanent display but will be exhibited during specific exhibitions.
The map collection which is to be known as “The Albert Ganado Map Collection” is the largest and most complete collection of antique maps of Malta in the world. The manuscript maps are unique and many of the maps are very rare and are not found on the market. The Ganado collection is probably the only one that shows the development of certain representations of the Maltese islands such as the Great Siege of 1565 and the plans of Valletta.
“These Great Siege maps are of great importance as some of them were printed whilst the siege was in progress to disseminate the news in Europe particularly in Italy, Germany, France and the Netherlands,” Heritage Malta said.
The collection consists of 19 manuscript maps, and 431 printed maps made between 1507 and 1899. Many of the maps were made before 1570 when Abraham Ortelius published the first standard Atlas. Most of these maps were printed as single sheets and only a few of them are left. Some are found only in the Ganado collection.
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Denis Catania
Jul 26th 2008, 02:51
@David Stephan Ganado, I don't think Mr Marsh is grumbling. He has a point, since we(Maltese)
traded a Maltese owned property for it. We do have a right to display them for a long period of time.Not just one time specialized exhibition. If the maps were donated and the donor requested that, than it's ok. Matter of fact we should market them and the museum can make money of them(I don't mean selling them) So other Art can be acquired. I commend Dr Albert Ganado for the opportunity given to the Maltese people to trade for these maps.
Luciano Mule Stagno
Jul 25th 2008, 21:33
The maps will also be digitized and put on Heritage Malta's website which will give people another way to study them
alfred agius
Jul 25th 2008, 20:27
In the name of our future generations, thanks Dr. Albert Ganado. You will be remembered.
Sandro Debono
Jul 25th 2008, 20:23
These works are precious items, fragile by nature and thus require special attention and display conditions. As things stand no site has such permanent display conditions. The maps will be displayed from time to time for all to enjoy and not just specialists. But the most important thing is that this collection has remained intact and not fragmented between a number of nonetheless rightful heirs.
v.pulis
Jul 25th 2008, 18:30
This treasure merits a museum all by itself. I am lucky to own the two volumes of 143 siege maps which were published some years ago by Dr. Ganado and the late Maurice Agius Vadala' and they hold pride of place in my library. I would love to see the rest of the maps in some future exposition or better still in printed editions.
Henry Mifsud
Jul 25th 2008, 17:30
This is great news. A private collection acquired by government to the benefit of the public at large. But as it has been acquired with public funds (property) it is only fair that the Ganado collection is professionally put on a permanent display in a secured environment at the National Library rather than the National Museum of Fine Arts in Valletta. Thus it may be enjoyed by the public but more so by researchers.
David Stephen Ganado
Jul 25th 2008, 17:27
Someone always has to grumble!
Can't you be pleased they are in Govt. hands and you will get to see them at least once in your lifetime at a specialised exhibition, than never getting to see them because they are in private hands!
Many great works of art and historical artefacts are held in private hands all over the world and noone will ever get to see them except the owners!
tony marsh
Jul 25th 2008, 16:42
great, they're in the museum, but nobody can see them, unless you happen to be in malta for one of those rare and vaguely qualified "special exhibitions".....
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