On the 27th of September 2019, MaltaPost will issue a set of 3 stamps featuring the portraits of Charles Clews, Johnny Catania and Laurie Bellizzi who were members of the popular theatrical group "The Stage Commandos".
![](file.aspx?f=72969)
The group was born during World War II within the dockyards in the Cottonera locality to entertain the dock workers, by keeping their morale high and positive. The workers themselves built a stage out of wooden boxes and soon the performances attracted audiences from the areas around the docks and beyond.
The stamps will be issued in sheets of ten stamps, with each stamp measuring 31mm x 44mm, with a comb perforation of 13.9 x 14.0 and bearing the Maltese Cross watermark. The sheets measure 216mm x 114mm and were produced by Printex Ltd in the offset process. The issue consists of 20,000 of each stamp and each stamp has a face value of €0.28. The stamps were hand-drawn by cardio thoracic surgeon, Alex Manché.
This philatelic issue will be available from all Post Offices in Malta and Gozo as from Friday 27th September 2019. Orders may be placed online at www.maltaphilately.com or by mail from the Philatelic Bureau, MaltaPost p.l.c. 305, Qormi Road, Marsa, MTP 1001; Telephone: 2596 1740, e-mail: info@maltaphilately.com
Download Press Release