Joseph Cook: Postmaster General and Political Maverick
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Joseph Cook, Postmaster General of New South Wales, 1894 - 1898, 1897-99 Jubilee Imperforate die proof 2½d in deep blue on thin card (48 x 43 mm), similar to the issued colour. The stamp's designer David Henry Souter was a leading exponent of Art Nouveau in Sydney. (a perforated 2½d Prussian blue postage stamp was issued in this design in January 1899). Cook was elected to the New South Wales Legislative assembly as MP for the coalfields seat of Hartley in 1891, in Labor's first big breakthrough in Australian politics. It was the first time Labor had won a seat in any parliament in Australia. In 1894, however, Cook was the leader of those parliamentarians who refused to accept the Labor Party's decision to make all members sign a 'Pledge' to be bound by decisions of the Parliamentary Labor party (Caucus). Cook's protest was based on Labor's attitude to the tariff question in particular, with his preference for free trade being increasingly at odds with his party. By the end of the year, he had become a follower of George Reid's free trade party, and for years afterwards he was seen as a 'Class traitor' by Labor. He became an invaluable ally of Reid, despite the fact that the two men had distinctly different characters, and remained colleagues only at a distance. Cook was appointed Postmaster-General of New South Wales when Reid formed a government in August 1894. He chaired two intercolonial post and telegraph (P&T) conferences in 1896, at which the Australian colonies agreed to fund a Pacific Cable linking Australia to North America. In opening the first conference, he spoke of the 'Federal spirit (...) animating most of our Australasian national endeavours at the present time'.
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- Art Nouveau Period - The Art Nouveau period was a cultural movement that emerged in the late 19th century, and was characterized by its emphasis on natural forms, flowing lines, and a decorative, ornamental style. Art Nouveau was a reaction against the ornate and heavily stylized designs of the previous era, and sought to create a new, more organic aesthetic.
Art Nouveau was characterized by its use of sinuous, curving lines, as well as a focus on natural elements such as flowers, vines, and other organic shapes. Art Nouveau designers sought to create a total work of art, in which every element of a building or object was designed to be harmonious with the overall design.
Some of the most iconic examples of Art Nouveau design include the Paris Metro entrances designed by Hector Guimard, the works of the artist Alphonse Mucha, and the architecture of Victor Horta in Brussels.
The Art Nouveau period was at its peak between 1890 and 1910, but began to decline in popularity by the start of World War I. However, Art Nouveau remains an important influence on design and art to this day, and continues to be celebrated for its emphasis on natural forms and decorative style.
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