AN INDEPENDENT ARCHIVE OF MALTESE STAMPS POSTAGE SINCE 1860 · MALTA & GOZO

Sources & coverage

A useful catalogue starts with evidence.

The catalogue groups base designs into issues. It does not yet cover every year, printing, shade, error, watermark variety or miniature-sheet format. Completion percentages measure this catalogue only.

2492stamp records
627documented issues
2396Records without images
2119Records needing review

What is documented

Years with individually dated records: 1860, 1861, 1863, 1868, 1871, 1878, 1882, 1885, 1886, 1893, 1899, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1919, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1930, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.

Years without individually dated records (1860–2026): 1862, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1869, 1870, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1883, 1884, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1900, 1908, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1944, 1945, 1947, 1952, 1955.

Records with one or more technical gaps: 2269.

Coverage is selective. Counts refer to the records in this catalogue, not every stamp Malta has issued.

32 · records with documented date ranges. Range-dated records show their documented range and may appear in more than one year filter. Completion measures catalogue records only.

2 · Undated.

Machine-readable completeness report (JSON) ↓

Research progress by period

1860–1884 · structural types

7 / 7 · Documented collecting types; 7 documented issues. 0 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

1 / 7 · records with sourced reusable images; 1 · Records needing review.

Paper, watermark and perforation types; shades, invoice runs and specialist varieties excluded.

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documented issues

1914–1935 · bounded basic inventory

132 / 132 · Documented collecting types; 16 documented issues. 57 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

40 / 132 · records with sourced reusable images; 132 · Records needing review.

Ordinary postage, War Tax and airmail. Principal group counts reconcile; exhaustive primary-notice audit pending. Postage dues and specialist varieties excluded.

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documented issues

1925–1993 · documented postage dues

65 / 65 · Documented collecting types; 10 documented issues. 2 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

10 / 65 · records with sourced reusable images; 65 · Records needing review.

65 basic and documented major paper, watermark and perforation types in ten postage-due groups. This combines 41 pre-1968 records with the existing twelve 1968/1970, eight 1973 and four 1993 records. It is not an exhaustive shade, plate, gum or post-1993 printing catalogue. The bounded later-source audit establishes no additional Republic of Malta type; separate SMOM/Poste Magistrali issues are excluded.

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documented issues

1925–1967 · postage-due paper and perforation types

41 / 41 · Documented collecting types; 6 documented issues. 2 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

10 / 41 · records with sourced reusable images; 41 · Records needing review.

41 basic and documented major physical types in six groups: ten imperforate provisionals, ten unsurfaced-paper values, ten rough-paper values, six original chalk-paper values, one Block CA replacement and four Maltese Cross line-perforated values. Shade-only reprints are excluded. Two clipped first-day rows retain year-only dates; the source’s watermark 4 pattern name is not guessed. Dates and technical identification remain partially verified.

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documented issues

1937–1954 · ordinary postage

64 / 64 · Documented collecting types; 13 documented issues. 0 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

22 / 64 · records with sourced reusable images; 0 · Records needing review.

Basic ordinary stamps; postage dues, fiscal issues, shades, errors and reprints excluded.

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documented issues

1956–Independence 1964 · ordinary postage

61 / 61 · Documented collecting types; 15 documented issues. 2 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

0 / 61 · records with sourced reusable images; 2 · Records needing review.

Original definitives, both Block CA types, twelve commemorative groups and Independence; specialist varieties and post-Independence Christmas excluded.

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documented issues

Independence 1964–1967 · ordinary postage

78 / 78 · Documented collecting types; 17 documented issues. 6 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

0 / 78 · records with sourced reusable images; 6 · Records needing review.

Basic design/value types; repeated sheet and triptych formats counted once. Christmas 1965 and 1967 first-day details remain unresolved. Postage dues and specialist varieties excluded.

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documented issues

1968–1974 · postage and postage dues

155 / 155 · Documented collecting types; 37 documented issues. 5 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

0 / 155 · records with sourced reusable images; 110 · Records needing review.

135 postage stamps and 20 postage-due types, including two documented glazed-paper reissues. Repeated presentation formats, shades, errors and unlisted minor printings excluded. Five 1970 first-day dates remain disputed; several technical attributes still need primary audit.

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documented issues

1975–1984 · the Republic

217 / 217 · Documented collecting types; 64 documented issues. 0 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

0 / 217 · records with sourced reusable images; 217 · Records needing review.

217 basic postage and documented major replacement or watermark types. Distinct 1982 World Cup watermark types included; unchanged reprints and repeated presentation formats excluded. No new postage-due type is listed for this period by the inspected specialist chronology. The tentative 1981 Europa paper observation remains unresolved; technical attribute review is incomplete.

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documented issues

1985–1994 · postage and postage dues

252 / 252 · Documented collecting types; 78 documented issues. 1 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

0 / 252 · records with sourced reusable images; 252 · Records needing review.

252 basic postage, postage-due and documented major paper, perforation or watermark types in 78 groups. Includes four 1993 spiral postage dues and the four distinct Local Councils miniature-sheet designs. Unchanged reprints and repeated formats excluded. The first appearance of the Ships III 23c creamy-paper alternative remains bounded to 1985–1986. Technical attributes and neutral design captions still require specialist review.

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documented issues

1995–2004 · reconciled period inventory

432 / 432 · Documented collecting types; 99 documented issues. 0 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

0 / 432 · records with sourced reusable images; 432 · Records needing review.

432 basic and documented major types in 99 groups. Includes four variable-rate label designs; each is one design type, not every dispenser value. No new postage-due group is documented in the bounded source audit. Unchanged reprints, packaging and unissued programmes excluded. Remaining caption, date and technical gaps are explicitly recorded.

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documented issues

1995–1999 · basic and documented major types

171 / 171 · Documented collecting types; 45 documented issues. 0 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

0 / 171 · records with sourced reusable images; 171 · Records needing review.

171 types in 45 groups. Includes distinct Cities 1997 and World Cup 1998 miniature-sheet watermark types, sixteen Marine Fauna designs and separate Mellieħa sheet and single stamps. Subject captions, missing technical fields and specialist varieties still require review.

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documented issues

2000–2004 · basic and documented major types

261 / 261 · Documented collecting types; 54 documented issues. 0 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

0 / 261 · records with sourced reusable images; 261 · Records needing review.

261 types in 54 groups, including four variable-rate postal label designs and two distinct self-adhesive booklet stamp types. Excludes unissued programmes, repeated packaging, unchanged reprints and minor varieties. Some se-tenant subjects retain positional captions pending identification; technical fields and reprint changes require further review.

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documented issues

2005–2014 · documented period inventory

523 / 523 · Documented collecting types; 108 documented issues. 0 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

0 / 523 · records with sourced reusable images; 523 · Records needing review.

523 documented types in 108 ordinary issue groups, including 90 dual-currency stamps counted once each. Candidate 2005 floral and October 2008 Europa reprint distinctions remain unresolved. Full specialist completeness, later postage dues and private-carrier issues are not certified. Excludes unchanged reprints, repeated packaging and unissued proposals.

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documented issues

2005–2009 · documented ordinary inventory

259 / 259 · Documented collecting types; 59 documented issues. 0 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

0 / 259 · records with sourced reusable images; 259 · Records needing review.

259 ordinary design/value and documented major types in 59 groups, including 90 stamps bearing both lira and euro values. Each dual face is one record. Candidate 2005 floral reprint diagnostics and an October 2008 Europa reprint distinction remain unresolved and excluded from this count; full structural completeness is not certified.

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documented issues

2010–2014 · documented ordinary inventory

264 / 264 · Documented collecting types; 49 documented issues. 0 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

0 / 264 · records with sourced reusable images; 264 · Records needing review.

264 documented basic design/value types in 49 groups, including all 88 Operation Pedestal vessels, 20 buses and 28 Grand Masters. Identical booklet and miniature-sheet repetitions are not extra stamp records. Some subjects retain explicit sheet-position captions, and technical and specialist reprint checks remain open.

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documented issues

2015–2021 · documented ordinary inventory

302 / 302 · Documented collecting types; 91 documented issues. 0 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

0 / 302 · records with sourced reusable images; 302 · Records needing review.

302 basic design/value types in 91 ordinary issue groups across seven reconciled annual inventories. Identical packaging repeats do not increase stamp counts. Includes eight tile types, four Gandhi designs and twenty Festa IV subjects. Detailed captions, technical fields, specialist reprints and modern image permissions remain open; postage dues are not certified by this ordinary-stamp audit.

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documented issues

2015–2017 · documented ordinary inventory

107 / 107 · Documented collecting types; 40 documented issues. 0 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

0 / 107 · records with sourced reusable images; 107 · Records needing review.

107 basic design/value types in 40 ordinary issue groups, reconciled to annual packs, numbered release sequences and the SEPAC listing. Repeated identical stamps count once: one 2015 Penny Black type and eight 2017 tile designs. Some captions, technical attributes and specialist reprint distinctions remain under review. Postage dues and unchanged reprints are outside this bounded inventory.

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documented issues

2018–2021 · documented ordinary inventory

195 / 195 · Documented collecting types; 51 documented issues. 0 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

0 / 195 · records with sourced reusable images; 195 · Records needing review.

195 basic design/value types in 51 ordinary groups. The 2019 pack combines two separately issued entertainment sets; both groups are retained. Four Gandhi stamps and all twenty Festa IV subjects are counted distinctly. The 2020 Apiculture reprint specification conflict and several captions/technical attributes remain unresolved. Postage dues and unchanged reprints are outside scope.

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documented issues

2022–2026 · ordinary inventory to 5 November 2026

182 / 182 · Documented collecting types; 56 documented issues. 0 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

0 / 182 · records with sourced reusable images; 88 · Records needing review.

182 basic design/value types in 56 ordinary groups. Annual groups reconcile to postal-administration lists and year-pack evidence; the 2024 pack enumeration is contemporary secondary reporting, cross-checked against individual member issue pages. Includes both distinct €1 Santa’s Workshop miniature-sheet stamps. 2026 is a partial-year inventory through 5 November, not a full-year claim. First-day metadata conflicts, some captions and technical measurements remain open; postage dues and specialist varieties are not certified.

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documented issues

2022–2023 · documented ordinary inventory

80 / 80 · Documented collecting types; 26 documented issues. 0 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

0 / 80 · records with sourced reusable images; 33 · Records needing review.

80 basic design/value types in 26 ordinary groups. Annual groups reconcile to postal-administration lists and year-pack evidence; the 2024 pack enumeration is contemporary secondary reporting, cross-checked against individual member issue pages. Includes both distinct €1 Santa’s Workshop miniature-sheet stamps. First-day metadata conflicts, some captions and technical measurements remain open; postage dues and specialist varieties are not certified.

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documented issues

2024–2026 · ordinary inventory to 5 November 2026

102 / 102 · Documented collecting types; 30 documented issues. 0 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

0 / 102 · records with sourced reusable images; 55 · Records needing review.

102 basic design/value types in 30 ordinary groups. Annual groups reconcile to postal-administration lists and year-pack evidence; the 2024 pack enumeration is contemporary secondary reporting, cross-checked against individual member issue pages. 2026 is a partial-year inventory through 5 November, not a full-year claim. First-day metadata conflicts, some captions and technical measurements remain open; postage dues and specialist varieties are not certified.

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documented issues

Selected major varieties · initial selection

13 / 13 · Documented collecting types; 13 documented issues. 12 · records needing release-date reconciliation.

2 / 13 · records with sourced reusable images; 13 · Records needing review.

Two independently documented surcharge/overprint varieties, separate from ordinary basic inventories. A selected extension, not an exhaustive specialist checklist.

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documented issues

These inventories reconcile the stated basic types only. They do not certify all varieties, all release dates or complete historical years.

How we work

Recent factual records cite official MaltaPost announcements. Historical inventories combine the public-domain Séfi handbook, contemporary postal notices, physical stamp studies and postal diaries, with later specialist work identified separately. Original specimens help resolve visible design/value mappings. Source usefulness does not grant image reuse permission. Descriptions are written independently. “Verified” means that populated facts are supported; it does not certify every technical attribute or physical specimen.

Image permissions

Historic images credit their creators and link to the exact licence page. Handbook illustrations are identified as monochrome reproductions. No MaltaPhilately or MaltaPost image is republished without a verified reuse basis. Contemporary records use labelled placeholders.

Remaining work

The catalogue is still incomplete. Many years and specialist varieties need further research, and most modern images have no established reuse permission. Consult the coverage report for current counts and exact gaps. Native Maltese editorial review and authorised Seen.mt configuration remain pending. No 95/100 quality claim is made.

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Sources & verification

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