Date of Issue : 15 September 2011
The Republic of Malta is a small and densely populated country on an island by the same name and some smaller islands in the Mediterranean. The islands are located between Italy in the north and the northcoast of Africa. The official languages are English and Maltese. Malta joined the European Union in 2004 and is now the smallest EU country both as regards size and population. Only three of the biggest islands are populated: Malta, Gozo and Comino.
This philatelic issue has ‘Fishing Villages’ as its theme which captures an important economic and cultural activity that is common to both countries. The village of Húsavík has been chosen for the Icelandic miniature sheet while the village of Mgarr, Gozo, is depicted on the Maltese sheet. Cedric Galea Pirotta was commissioned by both Iceland Post and Malta Post to paint both fishing villages.
