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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

International Penny Postage (Mr John Henniker Heaton MP)

1887
Sir Leslie Ward, Vincent Brooks, Day & Son (lithographer) and Vanity Fair Magazine (publisher)

from the series ‘Vanity Fair’
chromolithograph on paper (sheet: 39.6 cm x 27.0 cm, image: 31.3 cm x 18.7 cm)

John Henniker Heaton (1848-1914) worked as a jackaroo upon his arrival in New South Wales in 1864, but soon turned to journalism, writing for the Cumberland Mercury, Goulburn Penny Post and the Town and Country Journal. He resettled in London in 1884 and became an MP, dubbed ‘the Member for Australia’ by the English press in sneering reference to his membership of the Colonial Party. Although he supported colonial independence, his grand plan was to ‘stick the Empire together with a penny stamp’, and he began a long campaign for cheaper postal and telegraphic charges. In 1898 imperial penny postage became the rule for all parts of the Empire, except Australia; the first penny letter from Britain to Australia was posted in 1905, and Australia reciprocated in 1911. Also a campaigner for an end to the monopolies of the major telegraph companies, it was at Heaton’s insistence that the cost of international telegrams was brought within reach of the ordinary person Heaton also found time to lecture on Australian Aboriginal people to the Royal Society of Literature, and acquire Australiana, including the Endeavour journals of Sir Joseph Banks. He declined a knighthood four times, but was made a baronet in 1912.

Gift of Ronald Walker 2002

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Sir Leslie Ward (age 36 in 1887)

Vincent Brooks, Day & Son

Vanity Fair Magazine

John Henniker Heaton (age 39 in 1887)

Subject professions

Media and communications

Donated by

Ronald Walker (23 portraits)

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ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency