The Postal Union for the Mediterranean (PUMed), is a regional postal community, consisting of 20 member countries, intended to promote the collective interests of its national postal operators within the Euro-Mediterranean region. It serves to strengthen network integration and to develop projects that assist member countries to keep up with the challenges of constantly evolving postal markets.
MaltaPost has again joined members of the Euromed Postal Joint Stamp Project in the issue of a new set of stamps bearing a common theme. The Euromed stamp series is an annual commitment begun in 2014 by the founding member countries. The theme chosen for 2025 is "Resources of the Mediterranean" and in this regard MaltaPost launched a philatelic issue, consisting of two stamps, both related to the main natural resource of the Maltese Islands - globigerina limestone. This is a soft, honey-coloured, workable stone that hardens over time, making it ideal for building and for sculpture. Since antiquity it has been used in construction, from the building of the prehistoric temples in the Neolithic period to high-rise apartments and hotels in the 21st century.
The 0.45 stamp shows a skilled stonemason, carving a low-relief design out of a large stone structure. This process involves sketching of the design onto the stone and using a variety of tools to carve away the background and shape the raised elements. The limestone's relatively soft texture makes it easy to carve, rendering it an essential material for both structural and decorative purposes. Over various centuries, the Maltese stonemason developed exceptional skill in this craft elevating it to a form of artistic expression.
This craftsmanship is evident in the intricate facades of baroque churches, ornate balconies, and detailed sculptures that adorn Malta and Gozo. The second stamp, bearing a denomination of 1.50, shows a striking example of a magnificent baroque building, the Banca Giuratale in Gozo, built in 1733 from locally quarried globigerina limestone. The facade is a masterpiece of stone craftsmanship. It features a balanced and symmetrical composition that showcases delicate Baroque detailing, such as scrollwork, garlands, and fluted pilasters, all meticulously carved into the stone. Particularly notable are the ornate surrounds of the windows and doors, where stone has been chiselled with extraordinary finesse to create fine floral motifs, coats of arms, and symbolic embellishments.
