Napoléon Bonaparte (1769-1821); Knights Hospitaller; Felip d'Amat i de Cortada (1754-1828).

Convention arretée entre la République Française representée par le citoyen général en chef Bonaparte d'une part. Et l'Ordre des Chevaliers de Saint Jean de Jerusalem […].

[Malta], [Imprimerie Nationale], [after June 12, 1798].

Folio. 4 pp. Paper watermarked "C / BA". Signed by hand in ink at the end: “A mon[sieur] / Boré[?] / je suis”.

An extremely rare copy of the terms and conditions for the capture of Malta by Napoleon, dated June 12, 1798. This document was printed in Malta and is possibly the first item produced under the French regime. Although it lacks an imprint, the National Library of Malta has confirmed its origin. We have found no copies of this treaty in any digital catalogues, including those of France, WorldCat, KvK, or other major repositories.

Following the capture of Italy, Napoleon maintained strict secrecy regarding the destination of his next campaign. While it was known that he had assembled the largest expeditionary fleet ever seen in the Mediterranean, its destination remained unclear. In a surprising move, the fleet arrived at Malta on June 6th, and within a matter of days, the island was captured. The capitulation, as outlined in this treaty, was negotiated between Malta, represented by the Knights Hospitaller, the French Republic, represented by Citizen General-in-Chief Bonaparte, and the Spanish Crown as mediator. To control the flow of information, the French immediately seized the only printing press on the island and relocated it to the former Chancellory of the Order. The press, originally known as Stamperija di Sua Altezza Serenissima, was renamed Imprimerie Nationale. During the French occupation, Giovanni Mallia, who had been working at the press since 1763, continued to manage the printing office and remained in his position until the end of French rule in Malta in 1800.

Among the press's notable outputs was the publication of Malta's first newspaper, Journal de Malte, printed in two columns: one in French and the other in Italian. Only ten issues of this newspaper were ever published. A comparison of the typographic features of the Journal de Malte and this treaty reveals striking similarities, particularly in the initial "L" used in the treaty, which matches that in the title of the Journal de Malte. We have scans of the Journal available upon request. This, combined with the treaty’s extreme rarity and its absence from the French Collective Catalogue, strongly suggests that it was printed in Malta rather than in France. The National Library of Malta, through correspondence and the expertise of Prof. William Zammit, has confirmed our suspicions. Prof. Zammit is currently developing a comprehensive retrospective bibliography of all works printed in Malta between 1642 and 1800. The treaty appears to have been printed in France for the first time in 1801, in Pièces diverses et correspondance relatives aux opérations de l'armée d'Orient en Égypte; imprimées en exécution de l'arrêté du Tribunat, en date du 7 nivôse an IX de la République française (Paris, Baudouin, Messidor an IX [= June 1801]).

Condition: creased and frayed at the margins, old fold with marginal tear. Otherwise in good condition.