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The nation’s mood is often reflected in its stamps and this year’s annual Maltex philatelic exhibition will, in a year of important war anniversaries, feature displays that capture Malta’s sense of pride in its wartime achievements.

Titled Malta in War and Peace, the 2012 Maltex exhibition, organised by the Malta Philatelic Society, will include a display about the George Cross in Maltese philately as well as a selection of original artwork submitted for Maltapost’s Operation Pedestal 88-stamp issue. This year was the 70th anniversary of both momentous events in World War II.

The wartime theme runs through other exhibits, such as censored mail from the two World Wars and documents from the French Occupation. In his introductory article to the exhibition leaflet, society president Alfred Bonnici writes about the Victory and George Cross commemorative issues, prisoners of war mail and the war tax on mail introduced in 1917.

Since peace is also a theme of this year’s exhibition, among the other numerous displays are artwork submitted by Alfred Caruana Ruggier for the 1986 International Year of Peace stamp issue, and stamps issued for the 2012 London Olympics.

The exhibition will be held at the Green Lounge of the Hotel Phoenicia in Floriana this weekend.

It will be open to the public from 9am to 6pm on Friday and Saturday and from 9am to noon on Sunday. Admission is free.

President George Abela will open the exhibition, with the opening ceremony taking place on Thursday at 6pm.

A temporary Branch Post Office will be open throughout the weekend and mail posted at this office will receive the special handstamp.

Occasional cards, postal cards, personalised covers and personalised stamps will also be on sale.

Stamp tokens will be given to young collectors.

A number of local and foreign dealers will be in attendance to cater for collectors and provide advice.