{"product_id":"the-church-of-st-john-in-valletta-sir-hannibal-p-scicluna-1st-ed-signed","title":"The Church of St. John in Valletta, Sir Hannibal P. Scicluna — 1st Ed, Signed","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication:\u003c\/b\u003e Rome, Casa M. Danesi, 1955\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormatting:\u003c\/b\u003e Folio, pp. liii, 428, + CCCI plates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Report:\u003c\/b\u003e Good. The original red cloth binding remains tight and structurally sound, with the bright white Maltese cross and gilt spine lettering presenting cleanly against the boards. The extremities exhibit only minor shelf-wear. The original cream dust jacket is largely intact but shows typical age-related toning, light surface foxing, and minor edgewear along the spine ends. Internally, the hinges are strong and the text block is predominantly clean; however, the book's overall grade is reduced to Good as several of the black-and-white plates have sustained surface damage due to previous page adhesion. Despite this internal flaw, it remains a handsome and sturdy copy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCatalogue Note:\u003c\/b\u003e First Edition, limited to 2,000 copies, of which this is number 1478. The limitation page bears the author's signature in blue ink. A printed errata slip is neatly tipped into the preliminary pages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis monumental work stands as a definitive historical and architectural record of St. John's Co-Cathedral. The volume is profusely illustrated, containing two folding plans, 50 colour plates (including a striking reproduction of Caravaggio's \u003ci\u003eThe Beheading of St. John the Baptist\u003c\/i\u003e), and over 700 black-and-white figures across 301 plates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComplete copies retaining the original dust jacket are scarce on the open market, particularly in signed, limited states, making it a sought-after reference for collectors of Maltese heritage and the history of the Knights Hospitaller.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA landmark achievement in Maltese historiography, \u003ci\u003eThe Church of St. John in Valletta\u003c\/i\u003e offers an exhaustive exploration of one of Europe's finest Baroque masterpieces. Sir Hannibal P. Scicluna meticulously documents the conventual church of the Knights Hospitaller, detailing its soaring architecture, artistic treasures, and the rich legacy of the Order of St. John from its inception. Profusely illustrated and comprehensive in its scope, this volume stands as a vital historical record of a monument that survived the devastation of the Second World War.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Broadhursts Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54814199415123,"sku":"5325","price":250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/1469\/6787\/files\/20260820_101950.jpg?v=1788256122","url":"https:\/\/broadhurstsbooks.com\/products\/the-church-of-st-john-in-valletta-sir-hannibal-p-scicluna-1st-ed-signed","provider":"Broadhursts Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}