The works of the very first notary of the Order of St John in Malta will be restored through a private sponsorship by the Alfred Mizzi Foundation.

The invaluable documents of Bartholomeo Selvagii de Via, the Order’s notary from their time in Rhodes, span from 1531 to 1551.

The volumes shed light on the little-known first years of the Knights’ occupation, including the establishment of their first auberges in Birgu, court minutes, and daily activities of the population of the day.

The sponsorship is the first under the notarial archives’ Adopt a Notary scheme, whereby individuals and companies can sponsor the restoration of anything from a single sheet to the entire output of a historical notary.

Announcing the project, Notarial Archives Resources Council president Joan Abela, expressed her relief at having found a sponsor for the vital preservation work. She said the ultimate goal was to develop the notarial archives into a hub for local and international researchers.

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said the documents represented a crucial part of Malta's national heritage. “The archives should not be a cemetery, but a living, breathing centre of research,” he said.