Liberty to Print
(University of Malta Library, 1976, 48 pp., illus., cover design: Norbert Attard)
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In November 1975 the Malta Library Association held its first National Book Week at the Bibliotheca in Valletta. Though its highlight was the History of Printing in Malta, a section was devoted to Street Literature Today with works from eighteen British private presses. Following the interest shown in the subject Dr. Paul Xuereb, the MLA president, entrusted Victor Fenech to widen the scope of the exhibition, with the participation of more private presses including examples from Malta’s own past tradition in this field. A Street Literature Exhibition was accordingly held at Tal-Qroqq during the week 22-31 January 1976 – an exhibition which also included a neat little catalogue listing the 280 exhibits. The catalogtue was designed by Victor Fenech who thus described the event:
“Liberty to Print, despite the rather high-sounding Miltonic title, is in essence a look-in at some depth at the fascinating world of the private printer and at the lingering tradition of street literature today. In some ways the exhibition looks like an open bazaar of the printed word – colourful, assorted, overflowing. It includes rare books, limited editions, artists’ prints, street literature in its myriad variety, and other ephemera which after all constitute a sizeable output of these little presses the world over.”
The catalogue was profusely illustrated, and included two brief but telling accounts: one on the private press today by Rigby Graham, without whose contacts the exhibition would not have been possible, and another by Paul Xuereb tracing the local tradition which dates back to the first printing press in mid-seventeenth century Malta.
It is a pleasure to note that amidst the commercialism rampant in our consumer society there still exist groups of people whose aim is to restore craftsmanship and beauty to printing… There was much to enjoy in this exhibition… These are the works of generous spirits who make the not so easy step from saying that life was once beautiful to believing that it could and should be beautiful again. |
Rose Lapira
“Liberty to Print”,
Malta News, 5.2.1976
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