GasanMamo Insurance has renewed its support of the Notarial Archives Foundation (NAF) and has sponsored the conservation of 141 fragments pertaining to Notary Placido Abela (active 1557-1586). This collection of loose notarial deeds is found at the Notarial Archives at St Christopher Street in Valletta, which now form part of the National Archives of Malta, and carry important historical worth.
This donation, which amounted to over €10,000, formed part of the ‘Adopt a Notary’ scheme set up by the NAF. This initiative seeks to raise awareness about and preserve for future generations the collection forming the Notarial Archives. These unbound notarial deeds, drawn up by Notary Placido Abela throughout his career, were unearthed during sorting activities led by the NAF at the Notarial Archives.
Through the completion of this project, GasanMamo Insurance has now sponsored the conservation of all notarial documents (identified so far) drawn up by Notary Abela, housed at the Notarial Archives. Notary Placido Abela’s notarial deeds constitute outstanding primary source material for the first years of Hospitaller rule of the Maltese Islands. Within these folios, one may find deeds of varying nature, including the sale and exportation of cumin, the leasing of property, and the selling of slaves. Key historical figures within Maltese history, such as Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette (r.1557-1568) and the Knights Mathurin Romegas and Guglielmo Couppier, may be encountered in these folios.
The conservation treatment of these 141 fragments included surface cleaning, paper repairs, ink consolidation, and flattening. The documents were left as loose folios and were individually placed in Melinex sleeves. These folders were then inserted in archival clamshell boxes, which will safely and securely protect all the folios.
These were also labelled and sorted in chronological order, which facilitates access for researchers and the future insertion of further folios pertaining to Notary Abela, should more be found. Conservation was entrusted to book and paper conservator Gislene Nunes, under the supervision of Dr Theresa Zammit Lupi, Conservation Consultant at the NAF. Dr Joan Abela, President of the NAF, expressed her gratitude at the long-standing and continual support shown by GasanMamo Insurance.
Through the company’s contributions, all manuscripts and loose documents identified so far and pertaining to Notary Placido Abela have been preserved for future generations. Dr Abela encourages other organisations to follow GasanMamo Insurance’s example in a bid to preserve our national paper heritage. GasanMamo Insurance Managing Director Julian Mamo said that it was an honour and a privilege for the company to support the conservation of such an important part of Malta’s heritage. He thanked the NAF and in particular, all those within it, who quietly perform the miraculous transformation of these loose folios into preserved usable primary source of information for generations to come.
GasanMamo Insurance is also particularly proud to be associated with Notary Placido Abela, who was active in the 16th century and counted among his clients illustrious names that are so closely intertwined with Malta’s history.
National Archivist Dr Charles Farrugia congratulated the NAF for this project and thanked GasanMamo Insurance for their constant support. Through such initiatives the rich archival heritage in the Notarial Archives will be preserved and enjoyed by future generations.
Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government Dr Owen Bonnici expressed his satisfaction at this development and praised the NAF and the sponsors for their support.