A representative of the Vittoriosa Historical and Cultural Society attended the launch of the Incunabula Directory held at the National Library of Malta on Friday, 10 April 2026. Incunabula refer to books printed during the earliest decades of European typography, specifically before the year 1500.
The newly launched volume documents incunabula found across Malta, including those preserved in religious institutions and within the National Library in Valletta. The catalogue follows manuscript-style descriptions, placing particular emphasis on provenance, stamps, and handwritten annotations left by previous owners.
The publication includes contributions from several scholars, reflecting a collaborative effort to preserve and document Malta’s early printed heritage. Among the highlights is an incunabulum held by the Birgu Parish, which is displayed at the Parish Museum located in the Oratory of St Joseph and managed by the Vittoriosa Historical and Cultural Society.
This specific work, titled Quaestiones de duodecim quodlibet by Thomas Aquinas, was printed in Venice on 31 May 1486. The book was restored in the 1950s at the Royal Malta Library and features a brown cover with a gold-lettered title.
The initiative highlights the importance of safeguarding Malta’s historical collections, offering valuable insight into early European printing and the island’s cultural heritage.
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