One of the most unusual items pertaining to the National Library of Malta collection consists of a sheet of inscribed papyrus dated 1785, attesting to an attempt at the production of papyrus on commercial lines. The originator of the project, Saverio Landolina Nava, was a Knight of Devotion of the Order of St John and he submitted his endeavours to the attention of Grand Master de Rohan. Landolina Nava’s venture must have been one of the earliest attempts at the production of writing material connected in any way with the Maltese Islands.
Landolina Nava had been commissioned by the Neapolitan Court to rediscover the ancient Egyptian method of paper production from the papyrus plant growing at Fonte Ciane, in the vicinity of Syracuse. Landolina Nava claimed that, after years of effort, he had managed to rediscover the lost art.
The papyrus plant is known to have been introduced to Fonte Ciane during the late 17th century, where it still grows wild. It has, in fact, remained in use in recent times for the production of tourist souvenirs1. It is not known whether Landolina Nava’s activity was followed up by the exploitation of Syracusean papyrus on commercial lines.
The document
The document consists of a papyrus sheet, measuring 420 by 400 millimetres, inscribed on both sides. The recto contains the title and a verbose dedication to Grand Master de Rohan, followed by Landolina’s own name and titles. At the bottom of the sheet, Landolina’s coat-of-arms is featured in colour. This is attached by strings to coloured designs of the papyrus plant which flank the text on both sides.
The verso contains the text describing Landolina’s endeavours. The text is in two columns and enclosed within a green coloured frame made up of swirls. Surprisingly, given the natural frailty of the material, the document is in a fairly good state of preservation and was probably saved from complete destruction by being framed between glass.
The text (translated from the original Italian): (Recto)
“First Experience with the Papyrus of Syracuse
Manufactured in the Egyptian method
Undertaken by order of the Royal Court of Naples
In testimony of the most humble respect dedicated
To his High Eminence
Fra Emmanuele de Rohan
Grand Master of the Jerosolymitan Order
and of that of S. Anthony
of Vienna
Prince of Malta
and Gozo &c.
By Saverio Landolina Nava
Of the said Order Inventor and Author
(Verso, left column)
Your Eminence
Having been commissioned by the Royal Court of Naples to attempt to rediscover the ancient method of utilising the Syracusean Papyrus growing at Fonte Ciane, which method until my discoveries, had been lost, I have been able at my first attempt to rediscover the production of paper. I would consider myself greatly rewarded for my efforts if my labours were to be approved by Your High Eminence, to whom I feel honoured to turn.
I had to overcome great obstacles in order to follow Pliny’s description of the composition of Ancient Egyptian papyrus paper. No lesser difficulties were encountered when it came to amending the corrupted text of that naturalist, as I was obliged to do as the results of my repeated experiments indicated to me. This was indispensable since no one, prior to myself, had ventured to rediscover the otherwise lost art.
Your High Eminence may observe that the sheet is made up of two levels, formed by the superimposition of various papyrus blades, according to the size of the sheet and that the blades of the lower level are arranged in the same order in such a way that they cut at right angles with those of the upper level, thus nearly forming a grid.
The blades have been cut from the stem, which would have had its edges, as well as the greenish bark with the filaments close to it, removed, since these were not required for this work.
From each stem (which thus reduced would still have as triangular sides retain the breadth of about two oncie, tapering at the (start of the right column, top), I have managed to extract more than twenty-four blades, cutting very thinly along the length by utilising an instrument invented by myself.
After forming the levels, I had them dried by putting them in the press, where they got strongly attached without the use of any glue, but only by virtue of the glutinous substance they themselves possess. This explains the stem’s strength when, prior to its unloading, it remains in the water to obtain the required degree of laceration.
Following the formation of the page as described, I then applied a thin coating of ‘Colla di midolla di pane’ melted in boiling water sprinkled with vinegar. The page was then carefully dried in the shade so as not to shrink or have the blades detach themselves from each other. Following this I once again had the sheet placed in the pres, making it thinner.
Finally in order for the sheet to retain its unity, I had it hammered and then smoothed with ivory, making it neater.
In order that one may better assess the difficulties involved in my work I have depicted the plant, which grows to the height of about eight feet, using natural colours.
I consider I have well employed the years I spent on my first experiment, from which knowledge of a lost art has been regained. But I am more satisfied with the opportunity which this has given me to render witness of my deep respect in offering this to your High Eminence, in the hope that it gains your benign appreciation as a Prince protector of the Fine Arts, while with the most humble deference, I am fortunate to be,
Your most humble, devoted and faithfully servant,
Knight Saverio
Landolina Nava”
Siracusa 14 October 1785
The Maltese context
The relevance of Landolina Nava’s success to the Order of St John in Malta was necessarily limited to the level of scientific curiosity, with little practical significance. During the Order’s rule, all paper and parchment requirements were imported. Such importation had, by the late 18th century, reached very considerable amounts. This was due to the Order’s ever-increasing bureaucratic requirements, those pertaining to its printing press as well as writing and binding material required by private individuals and business concerns. Paper and related products were imported from various European countries, notably from France and the Italian States.
The first known attempt at the local production of writing material occurred in 1850, on the initiative of Eduardo and Leopoldo Tonna, relatives of Luigi, one of the pioneers of Maltese printing at the time of the granting of Freedom of the Press, on 15 March 1839.
In a short pamphlet, they described the benefits of the introduction of steam-powered paper-making machinery in terms of local funds being used for the creation of employment, rather than for the purchase of foreign paper. The project required a capital of 3,000 pounds which was to be raised by private subscriptions of not less than 30 pounds each.
The Tonna project, however, does not seem to have materialised.
William Zammit holds a PhD. in history and is a lecturer in Systems of Knowledge at the University Junior College. His field of specialisation is the history of communication of ideas during the early-modern period.
This article first appeared in the Christmas 1997 Issue of Treasures of Malta, which is published by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti. Treasures of Malta is a magazine about art and culture that is published three times a year, and is available from all leading bookshops.
1 Naphtali Lewis, Papyrus in classical antiquity, (OUP, 1974), 20.
