The Anzac Memorial at Argotti Botanical Gardens in Floriana, designed by the Maltese sculptor Ġanni Bonnici, features on an Australia Post prepaid postal stationery envelope, issued in May 2015, and designed by Sharon Rodziewicz from the Australia Post Studios. It depicts photography of the memorial by Renee Figallo, one showing the complete work while a detail of the bronze figures can be admired on the imprinted postage stamp itself.

Bonnici’s design for the Anzac Memorial expresses human suffering without images recalling war or weapons. It is a heroic symbol of those who defended and gave their lives for their countries

This franking covers postage to any destination. A faint overall background image of the former Cottonera Hospital across the cover was provided by St Edward’s College, Cottonera.

The rear side of the envelope commemorates the inauguration of the memorial on May 25, 2013, and acknowledges Bonnici’s work as expressing human pathos during the Gallipoli Campaign in World War I.

Bonnici’s 1985 Christmas 2c stamp (left) showing The Three Wise Men reproduced in 23-carat gold foil with gummed backing, and his Independence monument in Floriana (right) in a painting by Frank Portelli featured in a 1991 stamp.

At that time, thousands of wounded Australian and New Zealand personnel were evacuated to Malta for treatment and convalescence. Many died from their injuries with most of the deceased being repatriated to their home countries. However, over 270 soldiers were buried in Malta.

A full-colour photograph of Bonnici’s memorial was reproduced as a full-page illustration in the book commemorating the Anzac centenary 1915-2015 Malta and the Anzacs – The Nurse of the Mediterranean by Frank Scicluna, OAM, honorary consul for Malta in South Australia. Credit to Bonnici for his original design is duly given in this book which provides full information on Anzac centenary commemorations through text and images.

Bonnici’s design for the memorial was chosen from among six entries in a specifically held competition. It expresses human suffering without images recalling war or weapons. It is a heroic symbol of those who defended and gave their lives for their countries. This is achieved by a male and female figure in bronze, whose open arms and palms express a pleading struggle for survival and evoke the spirit of glory on attaining victory.

Ġanni Bonnici’s Anzac Memorial at Argotti Botanical Gardens, Floriana.

The sculptor’s use of the arms forming a triangle, the erect marble central pillar emerging behind the three shorter columns of different height all contribute towards an abstract approach to sculpture. All three rest on a three-stepped circular base which bears the names of the Anzac soldiers buried in Malta.

Philatelists know quite well that Bonnici’s works have featured on stamps of Malta since 1985. That year the artist’s relief ceramic sculpture of The Three Wise Men, the Madonna with baby Jesus and Heralding Angels was the basis used for the Christmas three-stamp set.

In 1986, the 8c and 2c stamp were voted first in the International Vote a Stamp Referendum and Contest, while the 2c and 1c stamp was voted third.

However, very few philatelists know that Bonnici’s 1985 Christmas 2c and 1c stamp showing The Three Wise Men was reproduced in 23-carat gold foil with gummed backing as a legitimate British private local stamp by the owner of Staffa, an island off the coast of Scotland that had no official postal service.

A ceramic figure by Bonnici in one of the 2006 ‘Ceramics in Maltese Collections’ stamps designed by the author.

They were permissible under British law and used in payment for the service of private delivery from Staffa up to the official post office on the island of Mull. They were produced by the London and New York Stamp Company Ltd and offered for sale to Cinderella Stamp Collectors through the Calhoun Collector’s Society.

Bonnici’s bronze Independence monument in Floriana is shown on the highest value of the 1991 definitive set, that of two Maltese Liri, from paintings by Frank Portelli.

One of his ceramic figures was chosen to represent a contemporary art work and can be seen reproduced, from a photograph by the artist’s son Hermann, on the highest value of the 2006 ‘Ceramics in Maltese Collections’ stamps set that the author had designed.

Alfred Caruana Ruggier is an art teacher. He has de­sign­ed 20 stamps and other philatelic items for Maltapost. He is also a council member of the Malta Philatelic Society.