[Federation]

Commonwealth Celebrations. Opening of the Federal Parliament, Melbourne. May, 1901. Press Club [cover title]

[Melbourne, Commonwealth Celebrations Committee, 1901].

An invitation-cum-pass to the Press Club, bound in full red morocco (90 × 60 mm) lettered and ruled in gilt on the front cover; the printed pass mounted on the inside surfaces of the covers; in fine condition.

The pass is stamped with the number 162; this example was issued to Mr James Davis, Editor of 'The Traveller', on 4 May 1901, and is signed by David Hewett Maling, Chairman of the Press Club Committee (he was a leader-writer at the Melbourne 'Argus'). The Parliament was officially opened by the Duke of York at the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, on 9 May 1901. We have not traced an example of this attractive Federation item in any Australian institutional collection (or anywhere else, for that matter).