Handlist of writings on art in Malta

Abstract

Dr Sammut's Handlist of writings on art in Malta has been of great use to scholars in general and historians of art in particular, as well as to collectors of art connected with Malta, since its appearance in Melita historica in 1964. Since then, the literature on this subject has increased considerably, and the usefulness of the Handlist has decreased proportionally. It was for this reason and knowing that Dr Sammut had been updating his own copy of the Handlist during the past fourteen years, that I asked the National Book Week Committee of the Library Association to publish a second revised edition of this work as one of the activities for the 1978 Book Week, the theme of which was Through books to art. I was gratified when the Committee agreed to my proposal, and delighted when Dr Sammut authorised us to publish this new edition. The Library Association's funds being very modest, and bibliographies rarely being bestsellers, we would have been unable to find the costs of this publication without outside aid. Fortunately, Messrs Simonds-F arsons-Cisk Ltd., to whom my Committee and the Council of the Library Association are most grateful, agreed to make a handsome contribution. A Handlist of writings on art in Malta is the second bibliography issued by my Association on the occasion of the annual Book Week, the first being Victor Fenech' s A bibliography of children's literature in Malta. If such publications become a regular feature of the Book Week, the Library Association will have made a permanent contribution to Maltese librarianship in addition to the temporary benefits of other Book Week activities. [Introduction by Paul Xuereb]