This feature is not about postcards but about some early Maltese greeting cards. Cards are a study aid not only to discover the cultural setting of the period, but also to learn about the personality of the other person who sent the card, which would otherwise not be found in other sources.

The history of greeting cards can be traced to early Chinese and Egyptian origins and to Europe and the US.

According to the Greeting Card Association of 2851 S. Parker Road, Suite 1210 Aurora, CO 80014, (https://greetingcard.mclms.net/en/), some important key dates in the development of the greetings card are given below.

The history of greeting cards dates to the ancient Chinese who exchanged messages of goodwill to celebrate a New Year, and to early Egyptians who used papyrus scrolls to send greetings. Key dates in greeting card history include:

• 1400s: Europeans begin selling and exchanging handmade greeting cards, including Valentine's Day cards (1415)
• 1775: Members of the Second Continental Congress appoint a Postmaster General for the United Colonies, creating the US Post Office Department (predecessor to the United States Postal Service - USPS) on 26 July. The USPS is the second oldest federal department or agency in the US
• 1800s: Valentine's cards become popular and affordable; the Penny Post debuts
• 1840: Postage stamp is introduced
• 1843: First known Christmas card is published in London when Sir Henry Cole hires artist John Calcott Horsley to design a holiday card for his friends

Maltese postcards are extremely popular with tourists visiting Malta and collectors alike, having been produced for more than a 150 years. The lesser-known quantity is greeting cards used mainly for special occasions such as Christmas time. There are also those mainly invitation cards issued by Maltese associations. These associations were set up due to their deep connection to wartime events. So, they issued cards to commemorate the events and to honour certain people. All cards evoke curiosity, especially for the collector and researcher alike of this type of ephemera, which over time is becoming very rare to find.

If one were to make a tentative list of greeting cards during Malta's history, one would find quite an impressive collection. The ones mentioned in this feature are only some of the cards used mainly in Malta during the period covering the early 20^th century up to the late 1950s.

Malta British Fortress Christmas cards

Some examples:

• Card sent from the Officers Mess, Royal Air Force, Luqa, Malta
• Card sent from the Fortress Headquarters Malta
• Card sent from Headquarters Malta Command containing two images of Auberge de Castille, one from circa 1840 and a more recent image (circa 1940s)
• Card sent from the Directorate of Works, Air Ministry, Valletta, Malta
• Card sent from the Headquarters, Allied Forces, Mediterranean, Malta

Regimental Christmas cards

Some examples:

• Card sent from the 1^st Coast Regiment (this card has an image of the St Elmo Chapel and a detailed description of this chapel dedicated to St Elmo (tutelar saint of Seamen)
• Card sent from the 36 Heavy A.A. Regiment RA. Malta (this card has a photo of the Mosta church with a foreground showing a Matador army truck towing a heavy anti-aircraft canon
• Card sent from 'K' Section, Royal Signals, Command Headquarters, Valletta
• Card sent from H.M. Dockyard, Malta containing an image of the Sheer Bastion from Dockyard Creek
• Card sent from H.M. Victualling Yard, Malta. This card was sent by a Maltese employee, J. Buhagiar
• 1^st Battalion Royal Garrison Regiment Card for 1903 containing three images of the Regiment in Malta

Special occasion and other Associations' cards

Some examples:

• Royal Malta Artillery, Corps Guest Night (30 January 1962) containing menu and programme
• Royal Naval Officers' Association Christmas Card
• Invitation card for a Luncheon to His Honour Dr G. Borg M.B.E., LL.D Chief Justice, the Hon. Mr L. Galea LL.D. Attorney General and The Hon. Mr Justice T. Gouder, LL.D at the Casino Maltese on 12 July 1941 containing a list of hosts and menu. It is noted that this event was held at the height of the Malta blitz and the card which is five pages long (including cover) was produced at a time when paper was a scarce commodity due to the difficulties in ships bringing stock to Malta
• Salonika Army Reunion Association, Malta branch, Fourth Annual Dinner, Osborne Hotel, 18 June 1938, Chairman Colonel G. T. Rawnsley C.B., C.M.G. Card contains menu and toasts to the King as the chairman of the Association, Absent Comrades (Major F. M. Stivala), the Salonika Force (the Chairman) and Reply (Lt. Col. C.E. de Wolff C.B.E). During the last period of the First World War, around September 1916, about 800 Maltese and Gozitans volunteered to serve in the Labour Corps to help the British in their battle against German and Bulgarian troops in Salonika, Greece

H.M Ships visiting Malta Christmas cards

Some examples:

• Naval vessels visiting Malta also issued their cards. One card is the one issued by H.M.S. London in the 1930s containing an image of the ship in Maltese harbour
• H.M.S Sussex Souvenir Menu Card, Malta Christmas 1936 containing menu and poem for the occasion

Royal University of Malta Christmas card

• Christmas Card showing a front image of the Royal University premises, which at the time was situated in St Paul's Street in Valletta sent by Prof. and Mrs Robert Victor Galea (1882-1962) of 68, St Lucia Street, Valletta, Malta

Prof. Galea was the rector of the University from 1934 to 1948. Galea was appointed professor of engineering and architecture at the University of Malta and acted as vice-chancellor in 1924 and director of the National Museum (1924-33) after which he was appointed as rector of the University in 1934.

Prime Minister's Christmas card

Card sent by Mr & Mrs Dom Mintoff from the Auberge d'Aragon, Malta for Christmas 1957 containing an image of the Naval Arsenal, Malta (circa 1830) from an original water-colour by C. J. Brochtorf. This card was sent under Dom Mintoff's first term as Prime Minister from February 1955 up to April 1958 when the Constitution was suspended. Dom Mintoff was also Prime Minister between June 1971-1976, September 1976-1981 and December 1981-1984.

Ecclesiastical Christmas card

This card has an image of Mdina on the front and was sent from the Archbishop of Malta (circa early 1950s).

Restoration and preservation of cards

Usually many cards are found when a house is cleared of its contents and many cards would have deteriorated over time due to foxing. Foxing causes spots and browning on most paper items. This reduces the value of cards apart from damaging them. The humid conditions of Malta's climate also contribute to this problem. Thankfully, there are means how to restore old cards and other documents from foxing and storing them in special paper for preservation.

The above survey of Maltese greeting cards is by no means exhaustive, but it might be a sufficient exposition giving the reader ample evidence of Maltese history. Cards are not only a means of wishing well or inviting persons to commemorate special occasions and left to rot away. They should act as a means of surveying the history and culture of a nation. In this sense greeting cards should be collected and preserved as national heritage to be accessed by future generations.