Malta's notarial documents : just as precious as Caravaggio paintings and the temples

Abstract

Dating back to the Order of the Knights of St John, the Notarial Archives give access to notarial records, which shed light on numerous aspects of Maltese life and customs that have been forgotten over the passage of time. The Archives reflect an uninterrupted history from the mediaeval period all the way to the present day. They give a broad view of the evolution of Maltese society, not just with regard to the law but also including handwriting, paper and different forms of binding and use of parchment.