The Melitensia collection at the Museum of Fine Arts in Valletta was given a big boost with the acquisition of a unique set of 450 maps spanning a period from 1507 to 1899.
In the marvellous palatial setting of the museum, the newly-established Cartography Section, considered by experts to be one of the most outstanding heritage hauls, will be the crowning glory of this living museum now endowed with a cornucopia of rare and outstanding maps that previously belonged to Albert Ganado, an international authority on cartography who has contributed extensively to prestigious academic journals on this topic. The collection has an estimated value of €1.8 million.
Over a period of 50 years he had personally amassed, at his own expense, and meticulously researched an array of varied maps. His discerning judgement and interpretation of Malta's early maps put him in the forefront of this specialised science. In fact, experts of his stature on cartography are very rare indeed. Undoubtedly, his publications and related books will be an invaluable addition to the Cartography Section.
The highly-acclaimed collection includes maps that precede the printed map of Malta by Johannes Quintinus in 1533, a wood-cut in the Insulae Melitae Descriptio. The military maps by renowned military engineers like Bartolomeo Genga, Francesco Lapparelli, Lanci, Ferromolino and many others are both impressive and revealing. The acquisition has been described by outgoing heritage Malta chairman Mario Tabone as one of the most important since the Antonio Sciortino bequest of 1947.
The profusion of maps relating to the Great Siege of 1565 issued in the major cities of Europe and those depicting St Paul's shipwreck in European cartography attest to the richness of this inestimable treasure trove.
Impressive indeed is the wood-cut map by the famous cosmographer Sebastian Munster issued in Basel in 1540 and enhanced by Munster himself with a dramatic graphic description of St Paul's shipwreck in Malta.
This new section has filled an obvious lacuna in our Melitensia, not least the realisation and examination of Malta's inclusion in European and Mediterranean cartography.
In a way, cartography has an enormous advantage over written documents not just because it is a predominately visual medium but also because, very often, it transforms inaccessible and vague material into an event.
With this addition, the Fine Arts Museum can now really be described as a jewel enriched with maps worth a thousand words, speaking volumes of the country's chequered history, massive fortifications, military schemes, battle plans and outstanding events.
Through such initiatives, Heritage Malta has added style and substance to the museum, which has evolved into a hive of academic activity, welcoming scholars, both local and foreign. Indeed, cartography is a highly-specialised academic discipline, a science which, as already explained, Dr Ganado has successfully mastered to the highest degree.
It is hoped that Heritage Malta will now invest in professionally-trained personnel to promote and preserve this marvellous collection for posterity.
More importantly, one augurs that other owners of such treasures emulate Dr Ganado's civic-mindedness and come forward.