Postage Stamps and Postal History of Malta - 1964 To 1974

1964 To 1974

Malta gained full independence in the Commonwealth on September 21, 1964. A set of 6 values was issued for this event, but two earlier sets (Hospitals and Brucellerosis) from 1964 also are counted in this period, as all issues from 1963 back are considered primarily Crown Agents designs, whilst later stamps are uniquely Maltese. Cremona designed virtually every set up to 1971, and these sets are all very cheap but highly collectable. Christmas stamps start in 1964 and have focussed mostly on Nativity scenes and Malta joined Europa in 1971, producing a set every year. The 1965 definitives showed the History of Malta to 1964 and are considered some of the finest ever issued.

In 1968 a Labour Government led by Dom Mintoff was elected in and dominated Malta until 1987, it also was anti British and looked to Libya and Socialism as guidance. British influence was slowly dismantled. In late 1968 all issues were now in Malti as opposed to English and this survived to the present day (Since 1988, some English has reappeared on issues and now its about half and half Malti/English). In 1972 Malta finally abandoned the sterling system and bought in a decimal system of 10 mils = 1 cent, 100 cents = 1 Maltese pound (Lira). A new issue of definitives was less successful than the 1965 set. By the mid 70s Cremona (Now a Knight of Malta) designs were looking dated and tired. In 1974 the stamp issues were quite leftish and on December 31, 1974, Malta became an independent republic installing a President and ending the role of the Queen and Westminster. Since 1974 Malta has been a republic with a Maltese president as head of state. In 1979 the British naval presence in Malta was ended and they were forciably evicted under the Neilsen accord. Malta declared itself as an island of peace, with Libya as the main ally. Stamp issues at this time were flat but about 5 came out a year.