Lazaretto Philately at Il-Ħaġar Exhibitions at il-ĦAĠAR

The Gozo Philatelic Society has set up a new exhibit in their showcase on Level -1, featuring letters with Lazaretto markings. Featured as well are British personalities who had to undergo quarantine.

The Lazzarett on Manoel Island acted as Malta’s defence during various epidemics. An isolation hospital until the 1970s, it treated the sick during the plague in 1813, the cholera epidemic in 1865 and the plague again in 1937. An 1814 marble plaque shows that disobeying quarantine rules could result in a death sentence – making today’s fines seem like peanuts!

Letters from overseas were disinfected, with the procedure already in place by 1678 when they were ‘perfumed’ after being slit. The relevant office was in operation at the Lazaretto by 1812, mail being marked with red wax seals (and later with a black handstamp).

This material can be viewed – together with other temporary and permanent exhibits – during normal opening hours of 9am-5pm seven days a week. There is no entrance fee.  

Filatelija mill-Lazzarett fil-ĦAĠAR

Il-Gozo Philatelic Society irranġat wirja ġdida fil-vetrina li għandha fil-livell -1 tal-ĦAĠAR (Pjazza San Ġorġ – Victoria) b’għażla ta’ ittri bil-marki tal-Lazzarett. Jintwerew ukoll personalitajiet Ingliżi li kellhom jidħlu kwarantina.

Il-Lazzarett f’Manoel Island serva b’difiża ta’ Malta waqt diversi epidemiji. Barra mill-pesta fl-1813 u fl-1937 u l-kolera tal-1865, baqa’ sptar għall-iżolament sa ħamsin sena ilu. Hemm irħama mill-1814 lil turi li min kien jikser l-kwarantina seta’ jeħel l-kundanna tal-mewt – il-pieni ta’ żmienna joffru konsegwenzi inqas serji!

Ittri minn barra kienu jiddisinfettawhom, bi proċedura li mill-1678 kienet tinkludi ferrett fil-karta. Nafu b’uffiċċju mill-1812 fejn jimmarkawhom bix-xema’ ħamra (jew b’marka sewda).

Tistgħu żżuru dan il-materjal – flimkien ma’ esibiti oħra temporanji u permanenti – fil-ħinijiet normali tad-9am sal-5pm sebat ijiem fil-ġimgħa. M’hemmx ħlas tad-dħul.