Works of notary Placido Abela held at the Notarial Archives are being restored as part of the initiative Adopt a Notary.

Through the scheme, which was launched last year, documents dating back to the 15th century are being restored.

Mr Abela’s clients included several Knights, most notably Grand Master de Valette. Since he was the appointed notary in the sale of lands during the initial stages of the building of Valletta, his notarial deeds also shed light on the allotment of land in the early developmental stage of Valletta.

The Notarial Archives, set up by Grand Master Lascaris, serve as a repository for over 20,000 registers containing records dating back to 1640. The oldest notarial volume preserved there is the one authored by Paolo Bonello which dates back to 1467.

Notary Salvatore Ciantar is listed as the first Archivist.

GasanMamo Insurance managing director Julian Mamo, during a recent visit to the Archives, said the company had last year committed to the scheme as many of the 17,000 volumes there are in desperate need of restoration.

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