Published in 2025, ‘Tberfil: The art of Maltese vehicular decoration in the 20th century’ is the first researched book about the Maltese vernacular art form of tberfil.
Written and researched by Steven Scicluna, the book traces the origins of tberfil, an art form that combines folkloric art with signwriting, and which was commonly seen on Malta’s old bus service. Its story starts at the dawn of the 20th century, and the book documents its development and crystallisation as an art form as it absorbed various styles and influences over the following 100 years. By covering the work of pioneering tberfilisti such as Alvaro Camilleri and later masters such as Bastjan Darmanin and Joe Farrugia, the resulting research showcases the various styles and aspects that define tberfil, from lettering to pinstriping, ornamentation to driver’s cabins.
The book was officially launched at the Malta Book Festival 2025 in Ta’ Qali, and can be purchased at various points across the island and internationally (see below). It has since been featured across numerous media channels and has helped generate a renewed interest in the tradition, both locally and internationally.
Further reading: Joe Farrugia: Keeping Malta’s ‘Tberfil’ Artform on the Road
**
Shops that stock ‘Tberfil: The art of Maltese vehicular decoration in the 20th century’:
Malta
Il-Lokal (L-Imdina)
Souvenirs That Don’t Suck (Sliema / Valletta)
Hollywood (Valletta)
Solo Bookshop (Imsida)
Gozo
House of Gozo (Victoria)
International
Better Letters (EU / UK / Intl.)
Written and researched by Steven Scicluna, the book traces the origins of tberfil, an art form that combines folkloric art with signwriting, and which was commonly seen on Malta’s old bus service. Its story starts at the dawn of the 20th century, and the book documents its development and crystallisation as an art form as it absorbed various styles and influences over the following 100 years. By covering the work of pioneering tberfilisti such as Alvaro Camilleri and later masters such as Bastjan Darmanin and Joe Farrugia, the resulting research showcases the various styles and aspects that define tberfil, from lettering to pinstriping, ornamentation to driver’s cabins.
The book was officially launched at the Malta Book Festival 2025 in Ta’ Qali, and can be purchased at various points across the island and internationally (see below). It has since been featured across numerous media channels and has helped generate a renewed interest in the tradition, both locally and internationally.
Further reading: Joe Farrugia: Keeping Malta’s ‘Tberfil’ Artform on the Road
**
Shops that stock ‘Tberfil: The art of Maltese vehicular decoration in the 20th century’:
Malta
Il-Lokal (L-Imdina)
Souvenirs That Don’t Suck (Sliema / Valletta)
Hollywood (Valletta)
Solo Bookshop (Imsida)
Gozo
House of Gozo (Victoria)
International
Better Letters (EU / UK / Intl.)