John Hampden

This suffrage banner was designed by Mary Sargant Florence for the Women's Tax Resistance League and executed by the Suffrage Atelier. It was first carried on a procession organised by the Women's Social and Political Union on 18 June 1910. The banner is formed from a rectangular shaped piece of canvas and has an applied figure depicting John Hampden in monochrome and silver carrying a scroll and sword, and surrounded by laurel wreaths, a roundel containing the image of a ship and the mottoes 'Ship Money 1627, No Vote no Tax 1910'. Across the top of the banner is the heading 'Women's Tax Resistance League' and on the reverse is the message 'Taxation without representation is tyranny.'

Reference to this banner appears twice in the minutes of meetings held by the Womens Tax Resistance League. On 6 May 1910 the minutes note "Miss Housman was deputed to order the banner from the Suffrage Atelier. Decided that a drawing for it to be made and submitted from the statue of John Hampden and that the colours of the league should be black white and grey and members of the committee try and search for suitable proverbs for Banner from J.H."
On 19 June 1910: "Miss Housman brought sketch from Suffrage Atelier from design by Mrs Sargent."

The 17th century Parliamentarian John Hampden was a 'hero' to the Tax Resistance League due to his resistance to pay King Charles I's illegal ship money tax in 1637. Interestingly the artist has applied the wrong date to the banner. Instead of 1637 it reads 1627.