Len Fox reports that he has received by post an impressive 773 page volume The Memory of May Day edited by Andrea Panaccione for the Fondazione Giacomo Brodolino of Milan. It contains a splendid series of paintings, posters, newscuttings, photographs and other illustrations from countries around the world including Australia, and has contributions from people in a number of countries giving a scholarly account of the early history of May Day in different lands with an appreciation of the complexities, and the significance for labour history.
An accompanying letter from Illaria Dagnini, Foreign Department, Marsilio Editori (whose address is 30135 Venezia, Marittima-Fabbricato 205 – tel (041) 5227822) says that copies can be ordered from Marsilio Editori at 180,000 Italian liras, which Len thinks amounts to something like $180. Len has written to them asking whether they have a distributor in Australia but expects the answer to be in the negative.
Meanwhile, John Arrowsmith of the Melbourne ASSLH informs Hummer that they are planning a special May Day number of the Recorder; Len or Bob James have been invited to contribute a page on early May Days in NSW; other contributors will cover the other States.