Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of the Maltese islands (49)
Cast iron post boxes
One of the types of street furniture present in Malta is the red, cast-iron post boxes which are a legacy of the British period in the Maltese islands.
There are different types of post boxes ranging from pillar to wall-mounted ones, each of which also varied in size. Other variations include the location of the royal cipher and crown, the typeface of the lettering, and the use of collection plates.
In the 1980s some of the Royal cyphers on post boxes in Valletta were unfortunately chased off on government orders, but thankfully this practice soon ceased.
In Malta there are 160 surviving post boxes from different eras ranging from Victorian through Georgian VI and Elizabeth II. One box at Żejtun in particular is unique and probably of local design and manufacture, while a few others are very rare and belonging to the Victorian and King George V periods.
Post boxes have gained local iconic importance and are replicated in miniature as souvenirs and feature in postcards and publications about Malta's heritage. Maltapost also issued a stamp book portraying the different types of lette boxes in Malta.
Mepa scheduled the cast-iron Post Boxes in Malta and Gozo as Grade 2 national monuments as per Government Notice number 829/07 in the Government Gazette dated 10 September 2007. The unique and very rare examples of post box are scheduled as Grade 1 national monuments in the same Government Notice.
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S Atlamyob
Oct 13th 2009, 19:41
Bravo! Bravo! To this very well written, researched, and concise article of significant importance!
Apart from the fore mentioned in the article, there's something magical about the use and appearance of the British/Maltese letter box, in sharp contrast to their positively Maltese surroundings, that makes for incredible photo ops, and makes a person just want to write letters by hand again, instead of e-mailing.
Everybody should experience the joy of putting pen to paper, and in ones' finest handwriting, experience the magic of letters, the ritual of pushing them through the slot in the pillabox, and possibly receiving one, that’s not a bill, in return :^)
It's a crying shame that so much of our precious past is lost to reckless abandon before its' beauty, significance, and value are realized. Thankfully this was not the outcome of the beloved letter box!
Now, if we could convince the Maltese post-offices to carry stamps for all locations including the Americas , and open when it’s convenient for the customers instead of themselves, we might have a relatively inexpensive way of advertising the beauty of Malta and staying in touch with those in our hearts and other lands at the same time.