The ubiquitous Maltese balcony is the subject of a set of five stamps and a Miniature Sheet being issued by the Philatelic Bureau of Maltapost plc on Saturday, 28 April. Offset printed by Messrs Printex Ltd of Qormi on Maltese Crosses watermarked paper to a design by Alfred Caruana Ruggier, the stamps come in dual denomination values of 8c/euro 0.19, 22c/euro 0.51, 27c/euro 0.63, 29c/euro 0.68, 46c/euro 1.07, and 51c/euro 1.19.

The stamp size is 44.0 x 31.0mm with a perforation of 13.9 x 14.0 (comb). The Miniature Sheet is 123.0 x 86.0mm. The stamp within the Miniature Sheet is 41.0 x 30.5mm, with a perforation of 13.5 x 13.5mm (comb). The stamps are available in sheets of ten.

The balcony is unequivocally an important feature of the Maltese streetscape. It is believed that the first open balconies built entirely from stone began to appear locally during medieval times. Their popularity declined in favour of more introverted constructions which guaranteed better defensibility. By the mid-16th century, with the settling of the Military Order of St. John of Jerusalem in Malta, the open balcony regained its popularity.

The first balconies were of the open type and benefited from a stone fence or a wooden or wrought iron rail. An aerial perspective drawing of the newly constructed Valletta published in Bosio's History of the Order of 1602 shows very clearly the absence of any closed timber box balcony.

It is believed that the first closed timber balcony appeared around 1679, when the corner balcony of the Grand Master's Palace in Valletta was covered with a timber and glass structure joining all the rooms on this side of the Palace.

Many architecture historians maintain that the first balconies were simply an addition to the stone parapet of the open balcony. It was later that the ornament-free, well-proportioned masonry panels were transformed to timber, resulting in the closed timber balcony as seen today. The designs of building facades dating to the early Baroque period were thus not conceived with the closed timber balcony in mind. It was only in later buildings that this element was incorporated in the design of the façade.

During the 18th century the popularity of the closed timber balcony spread from Valletta to the villages where it became fashionable to replace the open balconies with an enclosed timber one.

The wrought iron balcony depicted in the 8c/euro 0.19 stamp is a typical example of how Maltese artisans adapted traditional crafts to modern idiom.

One of the few Art Nouveau examples to survive urbanisation, this balcony offers an interesting composition of the "buckle and three tassels" decoration carved in stone, whilst a pair of masks is carved at the level of the bands running half way across the floor. In Maltese folklore, these effigies are believed to fend off the 'evil eye'.

The 22ceuro 0.51 stamp shows an ornate open stone balcony resting on two corbelled supports. The balcony complements the recessed arzella (shell format) doorway and the ensemble is typical of Gozitan vernacular architecture. The dressed stone parapet, elegantly decorated with geometrical patterns, rises solidly from the floor and gracefully follows the curvilinear profile of the balcony.

The 27c/euro 0.63 stamp features the balustraded balcony in the centerpiece of the imposing façade of the National Library of Malta, built to the designs of Stefano Ittar. This late Baroque Neo-Classical building was the last public building to be constructed by the Knights.

The 29c/euro 0.68 stamp portrays an interesting Gozitan example reflecting the transition from an open to a closed timber balcony. The lower part, which is of an earlier origin, consists of an intricately carved open stone balcony having an L-shaped plan, constructed to rest on three massive brackets which corbel outwards to maximise space. The glazed timber enclosure resting on the stone parapet is a later addition offering protection from the sun and rain.

The 46c/euro 1.07 stamp illustrates a daring example of local Art Deco architecture of the 1930s attributed to the Maltese architect Silvio Mercieca. The balconies, pierced by openings which serve as pots for plants. play an important role in the design of the balconies contrasting the rather plain and conventional façade. These "holes" are essentially models of the balconies themselves.

The 51c/euro 1.19 stamp on the Miniature Sheet portrays a detail of the intricately ornamented balcony accentuating the portal of Hostel de Verdelin in Valletta. This building was designed by Francesco Buonamici for Fra Jean

Jacque de Verdelin of the langue of Provence in the mid-17th Century. The building expresses the Baroque ideal of total integration of architectural, decorative, and sculptural elements.

This set will be available in First Day Cover format, mint or cancelled, and as a Souvenir Folder and Presentation Pack, from all Maltapost postal retail outlets in Malta and Gozo and from the Philatelic Bureau. Additional details are obtainable from the Philatelic Bureau (tel. 2596 1747, e-mail [email protected], or from the Maltapost website www.maltapost.com