Below are a couple of the 13 examples of Photographic Essays included in the Philangles May 28 sale.

There appears to be two groups of essay type.

Type one has the most examples and most looks like the issued design :

The second group has the following type designs :

The majority of lots are described as "MALTA DLR PHOTOGRAPHIC ESSAY of unadopted 1954 [value reference] with special archive hs on reverse. Extremely rare archive item."

I don't actually think these are Photograhic Essay's.. more Photographic 'Archives' as i believe they are the DLR records of submitted Essays as the below lot from an old catalogue shows the 1.5d value from the first group existing in hand painted form. None the less they appear to be a genuine DLR archive source.

(unfortunately there wasn't a colour image)

Forum link to discuss the 1956 Issues

There is also a large amount of reference material available including extensive old MSC study papers and news letters.

There is also what is described an exhibition standard collection of Karen Grech material :

"MALTA KAREN GRECH CROSSES on covers 1978/2001 the exhibition collection of 180+ items housed in three albums showing these Maltese Postal Authority security markings inc rare early manuscript types mostly addr to doctors or important people (for fear of letter bombs or chemical contents following the death of Grech) also extensive study of the first handstamp types for the diff towns and much additional material/notes/information throughout. Believed to be the finest such collection assembled and rarely offered in such volume."

..maybe the circle should purchase to ensure its properly documented!

The auction house kindly sent me enlarged scans of all the DLR photographic items for which i said i'd add a reference on our site.

Link to philangles online sales catalogue

Results will be posted later.