#Supremus Militaris Ordo Hospitalarius Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani Rhodiensis et Melitensis

[silentambassadors]

The medieval Order of St. John (officially the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta) predates even the First Crusade (they aided pilgrims to the Holy Land, as opposed to creating the wounded who would need aid later, after the order evolved into a military order), and have long been associated with Malta .  In fact, the Order of St. John even once upon a time claimed Malta for its own (for almost two and a half centuries, eve!) - but these days, it considers its population to consist of three citizens (sometimes two): the grand master, the lieutenant grand master, and the chancellor.  The headquarters are based in the Palazzo Malta (surrounded by Rome - but was granted extraterritoriality by Italy; the Order has owned the Magistral Palace since 1630).  Aside from its three residents, the Order also has 13,500 members, 42,000 employees, and some 80,000 volunteers (its primary mission still being aid to those in need).  Probably we should all watch National Treasure again.

Stamp details: Stamp on top: Issued on: November 15, 1966 From: Palazzo Malta, Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta YC #1

Stamps on bottom: Issued on: November 14, 2016 From: Palazzo Malta, Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta UC #BF136

Recognized as a sovereign state by the UN: No [Not] claimed by: Italian Republic Member of the Universal Postal Union: No