In spite of being taught not to judge a book by its cover, this is exactly what is sometimes done at the Notarial Archives.

While the content of a volume remained important to researchers, the beauty of a decorated paper cover was apparent to anyone at first glance.

And it is for this aesthetic quality that priority has been given to the conservation and preservation of some 30 odd examples of decorated paper covers at the Archives.

One of the decorated paper covers from the collection at the Notarial Archives, awaiting conservation treatment.

The collection is remarkable for its complex designs and use of colour.

Block printed papers were very popular in the late 18th and 19th centuries in Europe, particularly in Italy and Germany but it is still not yet known whether Maltese binders ever produced their own decorated papers.

Stylistically, the decorated paper covers at the Archives are akin to Italian examples in their designs. This could highlight the trading and importation of such papers from Italy.

Since block printed papers were not expensive to produce, they used to be made in bulk. And because they were commonly used, they were considered ephemeral and many were reused, discarded or recycled.

The decorated paper covers which survive at the Notarial Archives were mostly used for binding the index volumes of notaries and logbooks which list inventories, materials, or expenses.

The fact that they were reused by notaries was the essential reason for their survival, making them quite rare.

This has led the Notarial Archives Resource Council to seek sponsors for their conservation treatment.

DFASinMalta, Malta’s first own Decorative and Fine Arts Society, was keen to raise awareness about the special covers and set the example by sponsoring the conservation treatment of three volumes. 

The damaged spine of one of the volumes (top) has been reconstructed (bottom).