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Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is the smallest capital city of Europe. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,966. Valletta is the second southernmost capital of the EU member states after Nicosia. Valletta contains buildings from the 16th century onwards, built during the rule of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also known as Knights Hospitaller.
The city is essentially Baroque in character, with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern architecture in selected areas, though World War II left major scars on the city. The City of Valletta was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980.
The city was named after Jean Parisot de Valette, who succeeded in defending the island from an Ottoman invasion in 1565. The official name given by the Order of Saint John was Humilissima Civitas Valletta — The Most Humble City of Valletta, or Città Umilissima in Italian. The bastions, curtains and ravelins along with the beauty of its Baroque palaces, gardens and churches, led the ruling houses of Europe to give the city its nickname Superbissima — Most Proud.
Postmark Examples
Roller cancels
 Roller cancel Valletta 1938 |
Meter cancels
 Meter cancel Valletta 1998 |
 Meter cancel Valletta 1998 |
British area (1800 - 1974)
 British Post Offices A25 cancel |
 Circle VALLETTA on a 1890 issue |
 Maltese Cross cancel of Valletta General Post Office, 1899 issue?. |
Covers
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 As the capital city Valletta used a Maltese Cross cancel before the used a named handstamp. |
 FDC with handstamp variant VALETTA MALTA instead of VALLETTA |
 Cover to Canada with rubber date stamp : Malta/Official/Paid/30 Nov 27. Tom Valentine Collection. |
 Accounts Branch G.P.O Malta. Tom Valentine Collection. |
 Valletta (R.G.) Malta (Government Repository). Tom Valentine Collection |
 Andy Mangion Registered Valletta R.L.B. Registered Letter Bureau |
 Andy Mangion Krag Type Machine Mark on incoming mail |
 Andy Mangion Krag Type Cancellation with Slogan: MALTA THE IDEAL PLACE FOR RETIREMENT / MALTA FOR LEISURE AND PLEASURE |
 Andy Mangion Krag Type Cancellation with Slogan: FOR YOUR HEALTH SPEND YOUR WEALTH IN SUNNY MALTA / COME TO SUNNY MALTA THE ISLAND OF HISTORY AND ROMANCE. |
 Andy Mangion Krag Type with Maltese Crosses |
 Andy Mangion Slogan Cancel HELP THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED |
