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Heritage Malta
has recently acquired an important and rare 18th century manuscript
of signalling orders, or manual, used by the Galley Squadron
of the Order of St John. Fra. Giovanni Battista Spinola issued
these signalling orders shortly after his appointment as Captain
General of the Galleys. The cartouche on the frontispiece bears
the following title:
ORDINI
Dell’Eccell. mo Baglio F. Gio: Batta SPINOLA
Capitan Generale
Per Regola della Squadra di Malta
Circa la Navigatione e Combattimenti
The manuscript is written in a beautiful and clear hand.
The frontispiece contains a fine pen and ink drawing of an
allegory of St John vanquishing the enemy depicted over a
trophy of arms. A putto supports the armorial bearings of
Fra. Giovanni Spinola, while that of Grand Master of the time,
Raimondo Perellos y Rocaful, dominates the composition.
The manual consists of a brief introductory note and 81 numbered
written orders followed by hand-coloured plates of the different
signalling flags to be used in the squadron. An index completes
the manuscript.
The Manual is on display at the
Malta Maritime Museum.
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