1998 The Teapot of Truth Leunig

Leunig has been described as Australia’s ‘pre-eminent cartoonist of the human condition”. You’ll probably seen his cartoons that has grace the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age. He is not only a cartoonist but also a poet, artist, philosopher and cultural commentator.

His characters and symbols are distinct. They feature ducks, teapots angels and small people with a big nose. Leunig first broke away from straight political cartooning when instead focusing on the Vietnam War he produced a picture of a man riding towards the sunset with a duck with a teapot on his head. The newspaper edited decided to print the image despite not knowing what it meant.

Years later Leunig decided the teapot symbolises warmth, nourishment and domestic familiarity and the duck freedom and playfulness. His cartoons focus on modest everyday situations.

The stamp designs are all concerned with the human need to love and to connect with one another.

Technical Details

Stamp design: Michael Leunig

Issue date: 13 August 1998