Malta 1948-53 'SELF-GOVERNMENT' 5s black and green, right marginal block of 4, variety joined 'NT' (R4/10) on upper right stamp, SG247/a.
A fine mint positional block of four with original gum. Some faint surface marks, which are mainly in the margin and the normal stamps are all unmounted mint.
A scarce positional multiple of this King George VI issue, particularly with the printing variety present, which is catalogued alone at £400.
Stanley Gibbons catalogue value: £490+.
Between 1933 and 1946, the constitution of Malta was suspended returning to British rule as a crown colony. This was because of the important of Malta to the Allied nations during World War II. The British Mediterranean Fleet was headquartered there early in the war. The Allied invasion of Sicily was launched from Malta. Prior to the Yalta Conference, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin had met in Malta to begin discussions on the post-war division of Europe.
In 1947, a new constitution was implemented and internal self-government in Malta was re-established. So, yet again, during 1948 Malta stamps celebrated the resumption of internal self-government in the colony. This resulted in all the definitive stamps of King George VI being overprinted in celebration of the colony's new political status.
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