Steve Ferguson (American, B. 1946) "Ilyshin II-2" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the Ilyshin II-2 from the 100 Year of Powered Flight Collection. Sergei V. Ilyushin began work on what be called his "Flying Tank" in 1937, integrating an armored steel, nickel and molybdendum shell into an airframe that protected the crew, engine and fuel system. Stalin approved the design in early 1938, and construction began in February 1939, with the first flight in December of that year. While early Il-2s were single seaters, later models had two seats. They were few in number and relatively vulnerable to attack from the rear. But as their great utility was realized, more and more were built, with the total manufactured exceeding 36,000, more than any other World War II aircraft with the possible exception of the Polikarpov Po 2. The Il-2 became an increasingly important element of the Red Air Force, and its pilots extremely proficient in close air support. Image Size: 16.25 x 14 in. Overall Size: 20 x 15 in. Unframed. (B17144)
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Shannon Stirnweis (B. 1931) "Mormons Arriving in Salt Lake" Signed lower left. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting appeared in the Fleetwood Trails West Collection of Fine Art Prints as "Exodus of the Saints" published in 1983. On April 16, 1847, an advance party of persecuted Mormons set out from the north bank of the Platte River, near modern-day Fremont, Nebraska, to find their Promised Land. Heading for the valley of the Great Salt Lake, the First Pioneer Company started west under the stern leadership of Brigham Young. The expedition numbered 144 men and boys, three women, and two children, plus assorted horses, mules, oxen cows, dogs, and chickens. As the seventy-two wagons rolled over endless prairies, there were only rare signs of other human life, when Indians would occasionally appear along the horizon. Westward these first saints toiled, always keeping in mind the thousands who were to come after them. They mapped the trail for those who were to follow, writing messages on rock and buffalo skulls. They even planted some grain to ripen for the settlers who were soon to follow this same route west. Mountain Fever flared among them, until even weakened Brigham Young was forced to ride in a wagon. But on July 24, 1847, they came into full view of the Great Salt Lake. "This is the place," said Young, "Drive on!" They had found their Promised Land. Thousands more would come down the Mormon Trail -- some riding in wagons, and some pushing two-wheeled handcarts in search of Zion. The great migration of the saints established the Mormon Trail as one of the most important of the all Trails West. Image Size: 18 x 20.75 in. Overall Size: 20 x 22.75 in. Unframed. (B07499)
Shannon Stirnweis (Arizona, New York, New Hampshire Oregon, B. 1931) "Battle of Yorktown" Signed lower right. Original Oil on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This artwork originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 18c Battle of Yorktown stamp issued October 16, 1981. Early in 1781 prospects of an American triumph in the Revolution could scarcely have been more bleak. Then, certain defeat slowly turned to victory as General Washington and Brigadier General Rochambeau marched south from New York to meet their foe, Cornwallis. Battered by his Southern losses and depleted in force, Cornwallis had gradually moved north to Petersburg, Virginia. There, the mighty Lafayette forces had attacked with fury, pushing Cornwallis back to Yorktown. As Cornwallis fortified the city for battle, he kept constant watch up the Chesapeake Bay for British rescue. However, instead of the British, it was the French who forged up the bay. As the French under Admiral de Grasse stood watch over these waters, Washington and Rochambeau moved south for conflict. Finally, on October 9, Washington sounded the battle cry. Some 4,000 shells pelted the hapless British for the next several days. French bombardment and the allied land effort of 16,000 troops forced the British to their knees on October 19, 1781. Although few realized it then, the dramatic American victory at Yorktown proved to be the climactic moment of the Revolution, a spectacular success guaranteeing the independence of America. Image Size: 16.25 x 16.5 in. Overall Size: 19.75 x 19.75 in. Unframed. (B07368)
Shannon Stirnweis (Arizona, New York, New Hampshire Oregon, B. 1931) "Rochambeau's Landing" Signed lower right. Original Oil on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 10c Rochambeau Landing stamp issued July 11, 1980. On July 11, 1780, the Comte Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau landed at Newport Rhode Island, with an expeditionary force of almost six thousand French troops. Including such famous regiments as the Royal Deux-Ponts, the Saintonge, the Bourbonnais, the Soissonnais and the calvary legion of the Duc de Lauzun, these troops were obviously disciplined, experienced fighting men sent by Louis XVI to aid the American fight for independence. In one of his first dispatches, Rochambeau wrote to General Washington, "The commands of the King place me under the orders of Your Excellency," meaning that he and his troops were at Washington's disposal and that French military power was at last wholeheartedly committed to the noble American cause. Rochambeau and his forces remained at Newport for nearly a year awaiting French naval reinforcements. Finally, in June of 1781, they joined the American army near White Plains, New York, and the united, armies marched to the south to join the army of the Marquis de Lafayette at Williamsburg, Virginia, on September 14. On October 2, the combined forces, reinforced by four thousand troops brought from Haiti by the French fleet under de Grasse, laid seige to British forces at Yorktown under Major General Charles Cornwallis. The presence of a second French fleet from Newport prevented a British escape by sea. On October 19, Cornwallis surrendered, virtually ending America's war for independence. Image Size: 18.5 x 15.5 in. Overall Size: 23.75 x 20 in. Unframed. (B06594)
Jim Butcher (American, B. 1944) "American Flag over Supreme Court" Signed and dated (1981) lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 20c Flag Over Supreme Court stamp issued December 17, 1981. The Supreme Court of the United States is a landmark well known to the American people. The highest tribunals of most other nations were created to settle disputes and points of law -- but this one, as it has evolved, can rule on the law itself, striking down Presidential directives and acts of Congress, upholding rights guaranteed by law, even interpreting the constitution. The Supreme Court has known many homes -- second-floor rooms over an open-air marketplace in New York, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, even private homes in Washington while the Capitol's old north wing took shape. The Court even shared the Capitol with the Senate and House from 1801 to 1935. Today, behind its magnificent pillared portico, the Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices meet to uphold the motto blazoned on its pediment: "Equal Justice Under Law." Visitors may tour the building, admire a pair of magnificent five-story elliptical spiral staircases, and view the historic cornerstone laid by Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes in 1932. "The Republic endures," he said, "and this is the symbol of its faith." The Supreme Court has been called the nation's conscience and the National Archives its memory. In a muraled rotunda visitors may peer at hallowed charters of freedom: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, seated in helium under special glass and filters. And at closing time -- and if danger looms -- the documents are lowered, cases and all, into a vault twenty feet below. Image Size: 16 x 14 in. Overall Size: 20.5 x 16.75 in. Unframed. (B06229)
Jim Butcher (American, B. 1944) "American Victory At Yorktown" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Canvas. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 18c Yorktown & Lexington/Concord stamp issues of October 16, 1981. Early in 1781 prospects of an American triumph in the Revolution could scarcely have been more bleak. Then, certain defeat slowly turned to victory as General Washington and Brigadier General Comte de Rochambeau marched south from New York to meet their foe, Cornwallis. Battered by his Southern losses and depleted in force, Cornwallis gradually moved north to Petersburg, Virginia. There, the mighty Lafayette forces attacked with fury, pushing Cornwallis back to Yorktown. As Cornwallis fortified this city for battle, he kept constant watch up the Chesapeake Bay for British rescue. However, instead of the British, it was the French who forged up the bay. As the French under Admiral de Grasse stood watch over these waters, Washington and Rochambeau readied for conflict. Finally, on October 9, Washington sounded the battlecry. Some 4,000 shells pelted the hapless British daily. Meanwhile, the British in New York created a rescue fleet two-thirds the size of the French forces. On October 17, this mighty army set sail for Virginia, but its efforts came too late. French bombardment and the allied land effort of 16,000 troops forced the British to their knees on October 18, 1781. Image Size: 16 x 16.5 in. Overall Size: 20 x 20 in. Unframed. (B07281)
John Swatsley (American, B. 1937) "Steamboat Experiment (1788-1790)" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This artwork originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue Maximum Card for the U.S. 25c Steamboat Experiment stamp issued March 3, 1989. In the early 1780's, an inventor named John Fitch and an engineer named Henry Voight built a steamboat propelled by six twelve-foot vertical oars placed on either side of the craft. She proved extremely slow, and by 1788 the two men had redesigned their vessel using three rectangular paddles operating aft of the stern rather than many oars positioned along the sides. They christened their craft the Experiment, and put her into commercial service on the Delaware, making the trip from Philadelphia to Burlington and Trenton, New Jersey. But she was just too slow for commercial operations -- the steamboat trip took longer than the journey by stagecoach. Consequently, the little steamer consistently lost money on her voyages and was withdrawn from service in the summer of 1790. Nevertheless, she was a pioneer in American steamboating in two regards. She was the first vessel in American waters to actually move under her own steam, and the first commercial American steamboat. Image Size: 8.75 x 10.5 in. Overall Size: 15 x 18 in. Unframed. (B11868)
John Swatsley (American, B. 1937) "Philippine Eagle" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 22c Official Mail Envelope issued February 26, 1985. The second largest eagle in the world, the Philippine Eagle is named for the beautiful Philippine Islands where it makes its home. The bird was bestowed with its proud name in 1978 by none less than the Philippine President himself, Ferdinand Marcos. But others besides the Philippine President have admired this bird of steely blue gray eyes and long, powerful legs. The great aviator Charles Lindbergh also favored the bird and made numerous trips to the Philippines in order to help secure its protection. It is easy to understand why the Philippine Eagle has long captured the attention and admiration of man, for it is a bird whose appearance is unforgettable. Its head bears a crest of long feathers which stand erect whenever the bird is annoyed. Long, powerful legs and feet plus its arched and narrow beak make it a fearsome predator. This magnificent bird of the Philippine Islands was discovered in 1896, and in less than one hundred years -- in the 1960s -- it was an endangered species. Image Size: 14 x 11.5 in. Overall Size: 20.25 x 18 in. Unframed. (B09489)
John Swatsley (American, B. 1937) "Tawny Eagle" Signed lower right. Original Acrylic painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 22c Official Mail stamp issued January 29, 1985. Most wild birds prefer to stay as far away from man as possible. But the Tawny Eagle is the only eagle known to normally associate with man. This occurs in northern Africa and India, part of the range of the Tawny Eagle. The Tawny Eagle, so named because of its tawny brown color, inhabits enormous tracts of land containing open grasslands, mountainous country and savannas. It ranges from central Europe east to southern Siberia, Africa, New Guinea and Australia. The Tawny Eagle is one of the most numerous of all eagles and in Africa alone, the territory in which the Tawny's are found covers almost five million square miles. In that area there are as many as 250,000 pairs of Tawny Eagles. One of the reasons the Tawny Eagle is so successful is its ability to adapt to virtually any environment rather than specializing in one particular habitat or type of prey. Another reason is that the Tawny Eagles migrate when necessary, allowing them to concentrate in areas where food is temporarily abundant. Versatility is the key to survival for the Tawny Eagles. Consequently, they feed on diverse foods ranging from insects to dead elephants. Unlike most eagles, which nest in the high treetops, Tawny Eagles normally nest on the ground in nests which resemble inverted cones. While some of its habits differ from most eagles, the Tawny Eagle is still a magnificent and noble bird. Image Size: 14 x 11.5 in. Overall Size: 20.5 x 18 in. Unframed. (B09486)
Keith Reynolds (American, B. 1929) "USS Lexington (CV-16)" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Canvas Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 50c U.S.S. Lexington (CV-16) stamp issued June 24, 1993. On July 15, 1941, a month before the launching of the U.S.S. Cabot CV-16, the U.S.S. Lexington CV-2 was lost following the Battle of the Coral Sea. To honor her famous predecessor, the Cabot was renamed Lexington and the "Lady Lex" embarked on her own impressive naval career. In late 1943, the aircraft carrier was involved in her first major engagement. The Lexington was assigned to clear the way for U.S. Marine landings by destroying military installations and gun emplacements in the Marshall Islands. For six days, a series of successful air strikes were waged on enemy fighters. On December 4th, aerial combat inflicted further damage on the Japanese stronghold in the Kwajalein Atoll, weakening their defense setup in the Marshalls. Size: 20 x 16 in. Unframed. (B14319)
David K. Stone (American, 1922 - 2001) "American Eagle Shield" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 34c Official Mail Coil stamp issued February 27, 2001. Prior to 1873, United States government employees could mail official documents by simply using their signature. This was known as franking -- a method of sending mail without paying for postage. Unfortunately, the system was prone to abuse and, in the years following the Civil War, misuse of the free-franking privilege significantly increased. In 1873, Congress abolished the system altogether and approved the first Official Mail stamps to be used by government agencies. The United States issued special stamps and postal stationery to be used by America's nine government departments -- Agriculture, Executive, Interior, Justice, Navy, Post Office, State, Treasury and War. Each department issued stamps represented by a specific color, for example, Agriculture stamps were always printed in yellow, Justice stamps in purple, Navy stamps in blue, State stamps in green and Treasury stamps in brown. Printed in denominations from 1? through $20, these first Official Mail stamps were printed by the Continental Bank Note Company, and portrayed distinguished profiles of noted Americans -- Benjamin Franklin, Andrew Jackson, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Edwin Stanton, Thomas Jefferson, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, Winfield Scott, Alexander Hamilton, Oliver Perry and William Seward. Since 1983, all Official Mail stamps have featured the majestic bald eagle -- a proud symbol of America and its postal service. Image Size: 21.5 x 17.75 in. Overall Size: 27 x 24 in. Unframed. (B09398)
Mark Schuler (American, B. 1951) "Hermes Spaceplane" Signed lower left. Original Mixed Media on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the 29c Variable-Amount Postage Coil issued August 20, 1992. When the U.S. Congress was considering the Bald Eagle as America's national emblem, the choice was met by some powerful opposition. Benjamin Franklin, for one, voiced his displeasure, suggesting the turkey would make a more fitting icon. In a letter to his daughter Sarah, Franklin even referred to the Eagle as "a bird of bad moral character; like those among men who live by sharping and robbing, he is generally poor, and often very lousy." A century later, orinthologist Arthur Cleveland Bent -- referring to the bird's piratical attacks on smaller, weaker osprey -- stated that Eagles "hardly inspire respect and certainly do not exemplify the best in American character." Yet despite such critical remarks, the Bald Eagle has remained one of America's most highly-recognized and treasured symbols. Image Size: 14.75 x 13.5 in. Overall Size: 21 x 18 in. Unframed. (B13955)
Keith Reynolds (American, B. 1929) "America's Cup" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Canvas Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 19 America's Cup Postal Card issued May 6, 1992. In 1851 a group of English businessmen challenged a syndicate of Americans to pit a Yankee schooner against the finest British sailing ship. Racing against 14 other ships on a 24-mile course around the Isle of Wight, the schooner America won going away -- and so was born the legendary America's Cup Race. Image Size: 11.5 x 14 in. Overall Size: 14 x 16 in. Unframed. (B13819)
Shannon Stirnweis (Arizona, New York, New Hampshire Oregon, B. 1931) "Canada Goose" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue Maximum Card of the 22c Canada Goose issued on June 13, 1987. Among the annual signals of spring's arrival is the ruckus of a Canada Geese flock. Loudly honking and noisily flapping their wings as they descend by the thousands, they reclaim their northern homes. Canada Geese arrive in their famous "V" alignment, seemingly unfettered or worn from the flight they have just completed along the well-established flyways. Upon their return, Canada Geese feed avidly on grasses, grain stubble, and other vegetation. Soon, Canada Geese seek out nesting places - usually found in open marsh areas or along the shores of lakes. Within weeks, the rookery is filled with fuzzy yellow goslings squawking for their food. The goslings will grow, on a special diet of insects and snails, to resemble their parents in color and size. Their bodies will be plump and their necks long, while their wing span may range from that of a duck to some five and a half feet. As leaves begin to change color in the Fall, Canada Geese spread their wings and join the flock heading for warmer shores. Image Size: 13.5 x 18.25 in. Overall Size: 17.5 x 22.5 in. Unframed. (B10906)
Kirk Stirnweis (Colorado, New Hampshire, B. 1967) "Liwi" Signed lower left. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue Maximum Card of the 22c Iiwi issued on June 13, 1987.In the cool, moist early morning calm of Mauna Loa or Mauna Kea rain forest, a startling cacophonous cry breaks the calm. The tiny Iiwi has awaken. Dramatically colored with vibrant black and red plumage and white underwings, the Iiwi is a member of the Honey Creeper family, found only in the upland of the Hawaiian Islands - usually between three thousand and five thousand feet. In addition to its stark coloration, the Iiwi can be identified by its strong, downwardly curved beak. This long beak permits the Iiwi to sip nectar from even deep, bell-shaped flowers which it does not have to stab to feed. Its favorite food flower is the sophora tree, and Iiwis may feed only on nectar. After feeding, the lone Iiwi seeks the shelter of the rain forest canopy. Calling while in flight as well as when settled, the Iiwi utters a sharp croak which is only rarely repeated to form a song. Iiwis can be distinguished by their musk-like scent, which is characteristic of most Honey Creepers. Image Size: 13.5 x 18.25 in. Overall Size: 17.25 x 22.5 in. Unframed. (B11028)
Shannon Stirnweis (Arizona, New York, New Hampshire Oregon, B. 1931) "Alaska Brown Bear" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue Maximum Card of the 22c Alaska Brown Bear issued on June 13, 1987. Although several species of Brown Bears are native to a number of regions around the world, the largest of these - and indeed the world's largest living terrestrial carnivore - is the Alaska Brown Bear. Also known as the Kodiak Bear, these Bears may reach nine feet in length and weigh more than three-quarters of a ton. Preferring a solitary life, when spring arrives, these huge Bears shuffle along well-worn trails to salmon-rich streams where they feed after the winter's hibernation. Frequently, the Bears will quarrel over territorial fishing rights. After disputes are settled, they get down to the business of catching fish. Fishing techniques differ between individuals. Some Bears wade out among the fish and squat down so that the currenct boils over them, and when a fish passes by, an effortless head nod or paw swipe yields a meal. Others wait by the banks for fish darting close to shore so a powerful brown paw can pin it down. Still other Bears refuse to fish at all, preferring to sneak off with an unwary neighbor's catch. Image Size: 13.5 x 18.25 in. Overall Size: 17.5 x 22.5 in. Unframed. (B10955)
Kirk Stirnweis (Colorado, New Hampshire, B. 1967) "Badger" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue Maximum Card of the 22c Badger issued on June 13, 1987. Snorting, snuffling, and waddling from place to place, the Badger is a curious creature seldom "badgered" by anyone. Preferring the solitary life, this mammal spends much of its time in burrows, away from the eyes of man and other predators. Using long, curved claws, the Badger can quickly dig itself out of sight in the dry, open lands it inhabits. A Badger's digging is also a way of retrieving food and or storing it, getting out of the summer sun for a nap, or preparing a winter home. Indeed, the Badger spends much of its life simply digging holes. The adult is about three feet long and can weigh up to twenty-five pounds. Its short, stocky body and long side hairs trailing the ground give it an unmistakable, almost amusing, silhouette as it moves about the western plains. But pound for pound, Badgers are some of the scrappiest fighters when cornered. Their fur bristles up, making them appear much larger; their sharp claws become a weapon backed by powerful jaws and strong teeth. Image Size: 13.5 x 18.25 in. Overall Size: 17.5 x 22.25 in. Unframed. (B10783)
Lyle Tayson (American, 1924 - 2014) "Checkerspot Butterfly" Signed lower left. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 13c Checkerspot Butterfly stamp issued June 6, 1977. The family to which the Checkerspot belongs, genus Euphydryas, is found throughout the northern hemisphere, with eight species in Europe and six species in North America. There are no known tropical species. This Checkerspot is also known as the Baltimore because it carries the orange and black colors of Cecilius Calvert, Second Baron Baltimore, who is more universally known as Lord Baltimore. He was granted the colony of Maryland by King James I of England. This colony became the State of Maryland which still carries the orange and black of Lord Baltimore on its insignia. This type butterfly is widespread but individuals remain in one particular area, usually a wet meadow where its food plant, the turtle head, grows. The young larvae gather on the same plants, weaving a silken web around the tender young leaves of the turtle head. Here they remain and eat until autumn and hibernate through the winter. In spring the larvae separate and continue feeding until they become adults during May and June. The Checkerspot or Baltimore is an eastern butterfly and is found from southern Canada south to Georgia and Missouri. Scientists believe that butterflies' bright colors may dazzle predators and make it difficult to catch the butterfly. The bird or other predator probably sees some butterflies as bright flashes of light which vanish when the butterfly lights on a branch and folds its wings. Image Size: 17 x 16 in. Overall Size: 21.5 x 20.5 in. Unframed. (B05117)
Lyle Tayson (American, 1924 - 2014) "Butterflies" Signed lower left. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Combination Cover for the U.S. 13c Butterflies stamp issue of June 6, 1977. Thoreau said that the study of butterflies extends the limits of being in new directions, so that "I walk in nature with a sense of greater space and freedom. It suggests, besides, that the universe is not rough-hewn, but perfect in its details." A butterfly is among the most beautiful of creatures. There's so little structure or power to produce such a flash of light and color. Their color is partly dyes and partly diffraction of light and is similar to the colors seen on a wet oily street or in a rainbow. The colors, some brilliant and some subdued, protect the butterflies by letting them blend with their background, by advertising that they taste bad, by suddenly dazzling their pursuer, or by making them resemble a larger animal the pursuer fears. Butterflies have been seen at amazing heights by airplane pilots and far out to sea where they have landed on ships to rest during migrations. Most species eat plants, some eat insects, and some cross-pollinate the many flowers they visit. Some newly-hatched bachelor butterflies swarm around a mud puddle for days before beginning their search for a mate. There are species which like to fight, attacking birds, dogs, and people, often driving them away. Butterflies and the rest of nature were classified by Carl von Linne -- Linnaeus in Latin. His name is part of the scientific name of many butterflies, indicating that he named them first, for example, the pipevine swallowtail is Papilio philenor Linnaeus. Image Size: 17 x 16 in. Overall Size: 21.5 x 20.5 in. Unframed. (B05118)
Mark Schuler (American, B. 1951) "View of Earth from Moon" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 45c First Manned Orbit of the Moon stamp issued November 24, 1989. No country ever demonstrated its aspirations and abilities more clearly than did America when Apollo landed on the moon. On July 20, 1969, the dreams of every American became reality when Neil Armstrong announced to all the world, "The Eagle has landed." On touching the powdery surface, he spoke his now famous words, "That's one small step for a man ... one giant leap for mankind." Fifteen minutes later, Buzz Aldrin began his descent from the Eagle to become the second man on the moon. The time on the moon was short and the men worked hard to complete all planned experiments. But, the men gladly found time to erect an American flag, not as a symbol of territorial claim, but as an identification of their proud nation which had completed the first manned lunar landing. Soon, the President's voice was transmitted from the Oval Office to the Moon. "Neil and Buzz . . . because of what you have done, the heavens have become a part of man's world." It was a touching moment for the astronauts and for their fellow Americans alike. Before long, the men with their carefully collected scientific data again boarded the Eagle for rendezvous with the orbiting Apollo spaceship and astronaut Mike Collins. The sense of relief the three men felt when they were again united onboard Columbia was also felt by the entire world. As they sped toward earth, the men shared with all mankind a sense of awe at the opening of a new frontier. Man had left his planet to explore another heavenly body ... and returned. Image Size: 12 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20 x 20 in. Unframed. (B12149)
Chris Calle (American, B. 1961) "Ulysses S. Grant" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue Postal Card for the U.S. 20c Ulysses S. Grant Classic Collection Series stamp issued June 29, 1995. Short and stocky, quiet and unassuming, honest and trustworthy, Hiram Ulysses Grant would fail at almost everything he tried before the outbreak of the Civil War. The congressman who appointed him to the U.S. Military Academy mistakenly wrote his name as "Ulysses S. Grant." Grant never corrected the error for fear his classmates might tease him about his real initials "H.U.G." An average student at West Point, Grant excelled only in mathematics and horsemanship. Although he fought in the Mexican War and was promoted for his skill and bravery, he was later unable to support his family on a captain's pay and left them with his parents in Ohio. Grant resigned from the Army in 1854. For the next six years, he failed at various enterprises. When the Civil War began in 1861, the Governor of Illinois appointed him colonel of the 21st Illinois Volunteers. Grant learned fast and, in August 1861, Abraham Lincoln promoted him to brigadier general. In battle, Grant took the initiative, fought aggressively and made quick decisions. Although many congressman asked Lincoln to replace him after he suffered heavy losses in the Union victory at Shiloh, Lincoln declared, "I can't spare this man -- he fights!" A popular hero after the war, Grant was elected president even though he admittedly had no political experience. Much was accomplished during his two terms in office, 1869-1877, yet his administration was one of the most corrupt in U.S. history. Image Size: 15.5 x 14.5 in. Overall Size: 23.25 x 15.5 in. Unframed. (B15013)
Chris Calle (American, B. 1961) "Classic Stamp Collecting" U.S. 1868" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. In 1837, retired schoolteacher Rowland Hill proposed a prepaid penny-per-half-ounce rate for all letters, no matter what distance they traveled. The postmaster general was initially appalled by this wild, visionary and extravagant proposal, but it was adopted in 1839. Stamps and postage-paid envelopes such as those now in use were issued in 1840. Their form has changed little since. Collectors appeared immediately, soon followed by the first stamp catalogues. Today, the enormous numbers of stamp collectors, and stamps to be collected, have made the pursuit a highly organized one. Catalogues describe almost every stamp available and give current prices for each issue. Since the early 1920's, the first day of issue of every stamp has been an occasion for philatelic celebration in the United States, and since 1937 ceremonies have included the use of a special postmark. Image Size: 11.25 x 18 in. Overall Size: 18.25 x 23.75 in. Unframed. (B12203)
Peter Barrett (British, B. 1935) "Saddlebred Horse" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 22c Saddlebred Horse stamp issued September 25, 1985. Generations ago, wealthy Kentucky planters often spent long days in the saddle overseeing their fields. Because they spent so much time on horseback, they desired a horse that had a comfortable and smooth gait ... yet was handsome in appearance. To develop such a breed, the Kentucky planters crossed a famed Thoroughbred sire named Denmark with mares of other breeds including the Morgan, the early Narragansett and the Canadian Pacer. The offspring eventually developed into a beautiful new breed of horse characterized by proudly arched necks, rounded compact bodies, and a spirited high stepping trot. But this new breed's greatest fame came from its incredibly smooth and comfort able ride -- which earned the horse the name the Kentucky Saddler, or American Saddlebred. The Saddlebred's smooth gait won it favor throughout the South as a gentle saddle and harness horse. Eventually the Saddlebred's fame grew throughout the country, and it became one of America's most popular horses. Today, the Saddlebred is America's supreme show horse. In the show ring Saddlebreds are paraded about with their necks proudly arched and tails held high. The horses are judged on their walk, animated trots and spirited canters. This gentle-gaited breed is loved as an all-around saddle horse with a most pleasurable and comfortable ride. Image Size: 12 x 10 in. Overall Size: 18.5 x 16.25 in. Unframed. (B09725)
Peter Barrett (British, B. 1935) "Water Spaniel and Basset Hound" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 20c Water Spaniel and Basset Hound stamp issued April 4, 1985. One of the most popular of American hunting dogs is the American Water Spaniel. Developed shortly after the Civil War for all-around hunting, this American breed is used to flush and retrieve game from marshes and lakes. A handsome and friendly dog with its thick curly coat, the American Water Spaniel makes an excellent family pet and guardian. The Basset Hound is another favorite American dog with a hunting heritage. Originally used by French royalty to track the scent of a fleeing fox, the Basset Hound's great hunting ability won him favor in the United States as a skilled tracker of game ... and as one of America's best loved dogs. Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 in. Overall Size: 15 x 17.25 in. Unframed. (B99014)
R.G. Finney (Wyoming, B. 1941) "Lion Family At Rest" Signed lower middle. Original Acrylic painting on Wood. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood Porcelain Plate for The Endangered Kingdom Collection Pride of the Savanna. A family of Lions lazes in the summer heat, recovering from the excesses of a full meal. While the female keeps a watchful eye, a cub wrestles with its father, a practice that teaches the skills needed to survive and eventually be recognized as the "king of beasts." It is not by chance that a group of Lions is called a "pride." For centuries, man has considered the Lion one of nature's most awesome and dangerous creations. Whether as mascot or adversary, the Lion has often been linked with courage. Over 3,000 years ago, the Egyptian Pharoah Amenhotep III hunted Lions with a bow and arrow from his chariot to prove his courage. As recently as the last few centuries, warriors of the Masai tribe in East Africa hunted Lions on foot. The first to grab the Lion's tail was the most courageous. Overall Size: 18 x 18 in. Unframed. (B14745)
Robert Seabeck (Wyoming, B. 1945) "1931 Sport Roadster" Signed lower left. Original Mixed Media painting on Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 60c 1931 Sport Roadster stamp issued September 1, 1998. Despite the Great Depression, motor cars flourished during the 1930s. Although jobs were few and far between, for those with even a moderate income a mere $475 could purchase the 1931 Chevrolet Sport Roadster -- the lowest price in the company's history! This incredible automobile's six-cylinder engine generated 50 horsepower. With the rumble seat open, the Sport Roadster seated four. Additional features included an attractive three-spoke steering wheel made of hard rubber, hood louvers, wire wheels, four-wheel mechanical brakes, vibration damper and a more durable clutch. DeLuxe models were furnished with a stylish chrome-plated wire mesh radiator guard. Sales were steady, with Chevy pulling ahead of Ford for the first time in history. Image Size: 7.75 x 18.25 in. Overall Size: 15 x 22.25 in. Unframed. (B15989)
Ron Sloan (American, B. 1950) "U.S. Flag over Capitol Building" Signed lower left. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue Maximum Card for the U.S. 22c Flag Over Capitol stamp issued March 29, 1985. As it has for nearly two hundred years, the American Flag flies high above the stone and marble building of the United States Capitol. Countless hearts have been filled with pride at the site of this revered structure, for no other building -- not even the White House -- is more closely linked to the great strength and glory of the United States of America. It stands at the heart of America's democratic government ... and is the focal point of the resounding deeds, ideals, and aspirations of the American people. The United States Capitol is where America's elected representatives make the laws -- as guided by the Constitution -that govern the way Americans live. Doubtless everyone who visits the Capitol feels moved by the majesty of America's representative government, and the history of the United States. Image Size: 16.75 x 23 in. Overall Size: 19.75 x 25.5 in. Unframed. (B09457)
Tom Lydon (American, B. 1944) "Sculpture of "Hope"" Signed lower left. Original Mixed Media on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This artwork was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 23c Official Mail stamp issued May 24, 1991. Americans have always been optimists. Men of vision and confidence built the country in the early years and similar men continue to improve upon the original. The "hope" for a better day is what drives Americans toward success. On the East Pediment of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., Hope herself stands nine feet high, symbolizing the quality that made the United States great. Part of a sculpted mural which includes Justice and America, Hope is the anchor of all that motivates Americans. Appropriately, Hope leans on an anchor. The overall theme of the sculpted mural is that America cultivates justice, but strives for success. Hope was carved from sandstone by Luigi Persico in 1825-28 at the urging of U.S. President John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States. For almost a century and a half, the sculpture withstood the elements, but rain and wind took their toll on the easily-eroded sandstone. In 1959, the Capitol was remodeled and extended; the sculptures were restored by Carl Schmitz, a plaster model made, and replicas carved in pure Georgia White marble by Bruno Mankowski. The length of the pediment is over eighty feet. The original sandstone crafted by Persico is in storage, but the beautiful marble reproductions stand for all who visit the seat of the nation's government to see. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20 x 14.75 in. Unframed. (B13210)
Ronald Maddox (British, B. 1930) "Tower of London" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Great Britain 9p Towwer of London stamp issued March 1, 1978. Vast. Overpowering. Aloof from the rest of bustling, modern-day London. The fabled Tower of London stands as a monument to Medieval Great Britain. It is a silent witness to nine hundred years of political intrigue and royal crisis. Bombings, fires and mob violence. Coronation processions and lavish banquets. Torture and daring escapes. Henry VIII, Sir Thomas More, Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, Elizabeth I and Sir Walter Raleigh are just a few of the historic figures whose fame and fate -- was intimately tied to the Tower. The Tower is dominated by the massive White Tower built by William the Conquerer in 1078. The design, both interior and exterior, is Spartan. Every consideration is subservient to obtaining the greatest possible strength and security. The outer walls vary in thickness from fifteen feet on the bottom to eleven feet at the top story. Many legends and superstitions are tied to the Tower of London, but perhaps one of the most fascinating is the story of the ravens: There have always been ravens in the Tower of London. They have made their homes amid the rising turrets and battlements for centuries, making themselves useful as scavengers. But even after that service was no longer required, their presence was encouraged. For, the legend runs, if the ravens leave, the Tower will fall and the greatness and glory of Britain will fade. Today, six ravens are kept "on the establishment," with their wings clipped so they cannot fly away -- thus ensuring Britain's survival. Image Size: 8.75 x 10.5 in. Overall Size: 15.5 x 15.25 in. Unframed. (B05125)
Ronald Maddox (British, B. 1930) "Windsor Castle in England" Original Watercolor painting on Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Great Britain 5 Windsor Castle stamp issued October 18, 1988. Windsor Castle -- located about twenty miles west of London on the River Thames -- is perhaps England's most famous castle, due primarily to the fact that it is the British royal family's chief residence, as well as a stopping point for many heads of state on official visits to Britain. Originally built around 1070 by William the Conqueror, the castle was a Norman motte and bailey with a timber stockade atop a dirt mound. The Round Tower and stone walls were added by Henry II a century later. The artwork depicts the Round Tower, viewed from across the River Thames. Since Henry II's additions, successive monarchs have remodeled and added to the castle. The decorations which adorn much of the interior are the result of George IV's massive redecorations in the 1820's. The Grand Reception Room and Waterloo Chamber are among the most lavish and magnificent rooms in the castle. Used for State receptions and other formal affairs, they -- like others of the State Apartments -- are open for public viewing during most of the year. In 1475, Edward IV began the construction of St. George's Chapel, one of the most magnificent of English churches. In this chapel are buried many monarchs, including Henry VIII, Charles I, and George VI. Today, Windsor Castle stands as an impressive and monumental reminder of the royal family's influence on British life throughout the centuries. In addition, it has remained a favorite residence among various monarchs, including Queen Victoria and the present Queen Elizabeth II. Image Size: 12 x 14 in. Overall Size: 19.5 x 20.75 in. Unframed. (B11764)
Tom Lydon (American, B. 1944) "Peace Protecting Genius" Signed upper left. Original Mixed Media on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This artwork was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 19c Official Mail stamp issued May 24, 1991. The year was 1791 and the United States was only a few years old when French engineer Pierre-Charles L'Enfant completed his layout plans for the capital city of the young nation. L'Enfant was a visionary with a strong bent for Baroque landscape architecture; even then he planned for a capital city based upon fifty states and 500,000,000 citizens. The central point of his elaborate plan was the U.S. Capitol Building. The building was designed so that it had a broad vista down a long expanse of park known as The Mall. Although many of L'Enfant's original designs were not incorporated into the Washington, D.C. of today, the city is among the most beautiful in the world and the U.S. Capitol is still its central point. The building is an emblem of democracy and a work of art in its own right. A fine example is the Apotheosis of Democracy, a sculpture on the east front of the House Pediment. This artwork was based upon a portion of the colossal sculpture and depicts Peace Protecting Genius. Peace stands before an olive tree, her right arm symbolically protecting Genius, who rests at her feet and holds the torch of Immortality. Carved from Georgia White marble, the sculpture was completed in 1916 by Paul Wayland Bartlett to adorn the great building of democracy. Image Size: 13.25 x 11.5 in. Overall Size: 20 x 14.5 in. Unframed. (B12980)
Dan Fern (British, B. 1945) "Board Games" Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the Great Britain 19p Toys and Games stamp issued May 16, 1989. Zipping round and round with dazzling speed, new toy trains and racing cars are always a source of excitement -- and by time honored tradition sometimes more so to the father than his son. Still, when dad steps in and takes over, he can claim a certain amount of historical precedent. Originally, a "toy" was a pretty trifle made for adults, not children. Only in the 19th century did the word "toy" come to specifically mean a child's plaything -- and that was a long time after the first toy train had brought enjoyment. In fact, the earliest toy trains actually preceded the invention of the "Iron Horse" itself, with a line of wheeled playthings pulled along by hand. After the steam engine was invented, mechanical power gradually entered the toy box, too. Water-filled boilers were heated by methylated spirit burners, and the old toy pull trains were soon transformed into shiny lines of railroad cars hauled on miniature rails by chugging toy steam locomotives. Toy electric locomotives ensued in due course. Then, after the automobile was invented, toy "Tin Lizzies" also soon were delighting children of all ages. And it wasn't just the children's cars and racing car sets that became popular -- though America's fascination with the automobile is amply reflected in its toy boxes. Finely crafted precision miniature automobiles, some with intricate moving parts and costing hundreds of dollars, have become favorites with adult collectors. Image Size: 17.5 x 18.25 in. Overall Size: 21 x 22.75 in. Unframed. (B12017)
Hodges Soileau (American, B. 1943) "Red Cloud" Signed middle right. Original Oil painting on Canvas laid on foam board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue Maximum Card for the U.S. 22c Duke Ellington stamp issued April 29, 1986. Edward Kennedy Ellington, born April 29, 1899, in Washington D.C., was known to his childhood friends as "the Duke." He began studying piano at the age of seven, and launched his professional career at seventeen. In 1923, he moved to New York where he led a small group of musicians who later became the core of his big band. Duke Ellington's first important engagement came in 1927, when his raspy jazz ensemble performed at the Cotton Club in Harlem. As a composer, Ellington was responsible for numerous works that achieved popular success ... and he believed that his orchestra was the truest expression of his creative vision. Indeed, Duke Ellington's real importance lay in the wonderful music he composed. During his lifetime, he created more than 900 compositions rich with lush melodies and complex rhythms. Image Size: 9.25 x 12.5 in. Overall Size: 13.5 x 16.75 in. Unframed. (B10170)
Michael Garland (American, B. 1952) "Rural Free Delivery - Horse-drawn Mail Wagon" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 32c Rural Free Delivery stamp issued August 7, 1996. Rural Free Delivery began in 1896 when rural residents in three small West Virginia towns first began receiving home mail delivery. According to the U.S. Postal Service, RFD is "a cornerstone of today's Postal Service, and a fixture of American life. Along the way it's opened up new avenues of commerce and communication, stimulated the development of the great American system of roads and highways, and established a vital link between industrial and rural America." Americans are familiar with the legendary 'service with a smile' that rural carriers render daily as 'post offices on wheels' to more than 24 million customers over 54,000 rural routes across the nation. But it wasn't always that way. Pioneer America had little in the way of postal service due to the isolation of communities and lack of developed roads. Much of the early mail was from settlers to relatives in Europe or elsewhere. Letters destined for overseas were often entrusted to captains of merchant ships. What little domestic mail there was, was hand-carried by whoever happened to be heading in the right direction and agreed to take it. Regardless of how it was moved, final delivery to the addressee depended largely on luck and chance. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 17.75 x 15 in. Unframed. (B15535)
Li Qingfa (Chinese, B. 1954) and Jiang Weijie (Chinese, 20th C.) "Terra Cotta Warriors - Armor Warrior" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media on Silk painting. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.N. 32c & 60c The Terracotta Warriors stamp issued November 19, 1997. Qin Shi Huang's legion of terra-cotta warriors was interned in battle formation 15 to 20 feet underground. These incredible life-size statues occupied a roofed-over area extending 700 feet east to west and 200 feet north to south. They stood ready, some 8,000 strong, in the same configuration the emperor's live honor guard did. On each side of the formation men face outward, but the majority of Qin Shi Huang's army looks east to meet any attack on the main gate of the emperor's magnificent double-walled tomb. Men march rank on rank. Horses draw royal chariots made of wood. Each chariot carries three or four men and is pulled by four exquisite horses flanked by 12 foot soldiers. Soldiers are armed with real crossbows, swords and spears. In addition to the terracotta warriors and horses, archeologists have discovered a treasure trove of gold, jade, bamboo and bone artifacts, as well as linen, silk, pottery utensils, bronze objects and iron farm tools. Students of military technology were amazed at the discovery of arrowheads and metal swords treated with a preservative that allowed the warriors' weapons to withstand the ravages of corrosion for 22 centuries. Analysis revealed that the swords were fashioned from an alloy of copper, tin and 13 other elements, including nickel, magnesium and cobalt. Image Size: 13.25 x 10.25 in. Overall Size: 14 x 12 in. Unframed. (B15787)
Li Qingfa (Chinese, B. 1954) and Jiang Weijie (Chinese, 20th C.) "erra Cotta Warriors - Arrow Shooter" Signed lower left. Mixed Media on Silk. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.N. F.s. 0,45 The Terracotta Warriors stamp issued November 19, 1997. Restoring the more than 8,000 terra-cotta warrior statues discovered in the mausoleum of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, is a monumental task requiring extraordinary skill and patience. Working with an inventory of literally thousands of fragments, archeologists and technicians have worked 19 years mending the broken soldiers. It's a lucky day when workers find just one piece that fits. To this day, long piles of fragments still lie at the western end of the site, awaiting connective surgery. More terra-cotta warriors are buried beneath them, waiting for their own resurrection. To help with the painstaking assembly, each piece is marked with a special code, indicating where the item was found and to what statue it might belong. If a perfect fit cannot be achieved, as is often the case, the piece goes back into inventory. An immense data base is being compiled on all statues, bronzes and other artifacts found at the site. Their images, descriptions and restoration history are being stored via computer for future reference. Interestingly, each warrior's face is unique. Many experts believe the emperor ordered actual soldiers from his honor guard to act as models, so they could continue to protect him through eternity. Before the rule of Qin Shi Huang it was customary in China to bury living people in tombs, rather than their likenesses. No doubt these soldiers were more than willing to pose, since they knew that the finished creations would be buried, instead of themselves. Image Size: 11 x 9.5 in. Overall Size: 14 x 12 in. Unframed. (B15783)
Skip Whitcomb (American, B. 1946) "Summer Garden Flowers - Marigold" Signed lower left. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the 29c Marigold stamp issued April 28, 1994. Although the name Marigold as used in America refers to members of the Tagetes genus, which includes African and French Marigolds, the pot Marigold of the Calendula genus is the flower from which the name was derived. Originally dubbed Mary's Gold by ancient herbalists, this species and other unrelated plants also share the Marigold moniker. Interestingly, the varieties called French and African, which are among the most common garden flowers in North America, are misnamed. Both are in fact native to Mexico. Despite this confusion, the popularity of these fiery blooms of yellow, orange and red continues to thrive. Making distinctive additions to summer flower beds and window boxes, these handsome annuals flourish in porous soil in a sunny location. Marigolds varieties grow in varying heights from six inches to almost three feet, allowing for an assortment of uses. The flower heads also differ in size and petal type. Some resemble small carnations while others look like daisies. Many varieties also possess strongly-scented foliage that acts as a natural insect repellent. Image Size: 15.25 x 13 in. Overall Size: 18 x 15 in. Unframed. (B14712)
Skip Whitcomb (American, B. 1946) "Columbia River Gorge" Signed lower right. Original Watercolor painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue 19c Columbia River Gorge Postal Card issued May 9, 1992. Born in the Canadian Rockies, it courses through Washington state and coils around to form the Washington-Oregon boundary before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. There are many adjectives to describe the Columbia River, but "placid" and "meandering" are not applicable. The Columbia is the largest North American river -- in volume -- which discharges into the Pacific, with a drainage basin of more than 250,000 square miles and a total length exceeding 1,200 miles. It feeds tributaries such as the Kootenay, Snake and Willamette Rivers and serves as one of the world's most prolific producers of hydroelectric power. It also slices through some of the most majestically beautiful countryside in North America. One such locale is the Columbia River Gorge. Lewis and Clark trekked through this 60-mile canyon on the last leg of their trailblazing exploration of the Pacific Northwest. What grandeur they encountered: sheer basalt cliffs shooting 4,000 feet above the shorelines; lacy waterfalls cascading down steep rock faces; churning rapids whipping the river into a turbulent frenzy; the foothills of imposing peaks standing sentry on both the north and south banks. Today visitors to the Gorge gaze upon these breathtaking vistas and display wonder, amazement and awe -- emotions which surely must have overcome both Lewis and Clarke and the pioneers who followed in their wakes. Image Size: 18 x 15.5 in. Overall Size: 20 x 17.5 in. Unframed. (B13723)
Vladimir Beilin (Russian, 20th C.) "Vostok I in Orbit" Original Watercolor painting on Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Russia Vostok I stamp issued May 29, 1992. Piloted by space pioneer Yuri Gagarin, Vostok I blasted into the skies above the USSR's Baikonur Cosmodrome on April 12, 1961. Launched less than four years after the comparatively simple Sputnik I became the first artificial satellite, VostokI was incredibly advanced for its time. Burning liquid oxygen and kerosene, its main engines developed nearly a million pounds of thrust. (By comparison, the rocket that carried the first Americans into orbit was less than half as powerful.) Vostok I's manned module was automatically controlled from the ground, however it had emergency controls for Gagarin. Vostok I also included a TV camera to monitor the cosmonaut, complex life-support and monitoring systems, and even a food locker (though Gagarin's pioneering flight lasted less than two hours). Unlike most later American spacecraft, which splashed down at sea, Vostok I was designed to land on the ground. Gagarin was the only Vostok cosmonaut to remain in his spacecraft for this hard landing, which he found very punishing. Learning from his experience, subsequent Vostok cosmonauts ejected prior to landing, choosing to parachute to Earth from an altitude of more than four miles rather than endure a bone-jarring crash. Upon his return to Earth, Gagarin inspected the Vostok 1, which -- despite its hard landing -- he described as "in good enough shape to be used for another space flight." Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 17.75 x 14 in. Unframed. (B13804)
Charles J. Berger (American, 1922 - 2012) "First Permanent Settlement" Signed lower left. Original Acrylic painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 13c Settlement in Alta, California stamp issued September 9, 1977. As America was struggling for independence along the eastern seaboard of North America, Spain's Charles III was strengthening his hold on Alta (Upper) California along America's future west coast. Consisting of the present states of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, and parts of New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming, the huge province was a part of New Spain. Earlier installations in the remote area had been primarily military outposts along an inhospitable frontier, peopled by soldiers, their families, and handfuls of missionaries. Such outposts -- presidios is more precise -- were more symbols than defenders of Spanish empire. Provisioning the presidios proved to be a huge problem, situated as they were on strategic, but infertile, sites. As a solution, Governor Felipe de Neve gathered together fourteen families and sent them north under the leadership and protection of Lieutenant Jose Joaquin Moraga and a few soldiers. In a fertile area just to the southeast of today's San Francisco Bay, on November 29, 1777, they founded the Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe. The name honored both Saint Joseph and the nearby Guadalupe River. That first civil settlement in all of Alta California had one primary purpose: to be a granary for the military outposts. The first buildings consisted of earthen-roofed houses whose walls were palisaded logs. Today, nothing remains of those first Spanish civil buildings, erected nearly two centuries ago on the spot that is today's San Jose, California. Image Size: 12 x 13 in. Overall Size: 17.25 x 20 in. Unframed. (B05475)
Jim Butcher (American, B. 1944) "Farm at Night" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally used on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 22c Rural Electrication Adminstration stamp issued May 11, 1985. One of the most far-reaching events to take place in the history of farming in the United States occurred when electricity was made available to rural areas. On May 11, 1935, President Roosevelt created the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) by Executive Order. The Act authorized the REA to serve as a lending agency and to develop a program for rural electrification. The rural electricity movement became viable when farmers formed seven cooperatives which were granted loans to extend electricity to their areas. Two of these original cooperatives are still functioning -- the Volunteer Electric Cooperative of Decatur, Tennessee, and the Boone County Rural Electric Membership of Lebanon, Indiana. Since its creation, the REA has approved almost sixty billion dollars in loans to assist nearly twelve million electricity consumers and over five million telephone subscribers. The Association represents more than one thousand rural electric systems, which own and maintain nearly half of the nation's poles and powerlines. In 1935, only ten percent of American farms had electricity. Today, ninety-nine percent of all rural residents enjoy the comfort and convenience it affords. Not only has the lifestyle of rural Americans improved dramatically as a result of the REA, but electric power has contributed greatly to the U.S. agriculture industry's becoming the most productive in the world. Image Size: 18.5 x 16 in. Overall Size: 25.5 x 22 in. Unframed. (B09593)
Keith Bowen (UK, B. 1950) "Redwing Thrush" Signed lower left. Original Chalk on Construction Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the Great Britain 33p Wintertime Redwing Thrush stamp issued January 14, 1992. Large, stout and sturdy-legged, the redwing is an annual winter visitor to Britain. True thrushes are found on all continents except Australia and Antarctica. This thrush family member most commonly occurs in Scandinavia and north Russia, but seeks more hospitable environments during harsh northern winters. Spotted-breasted like other thrush relatives, the redwing sports reddish-brown wings and flanks. It inhabits open grasslands and farmlands, where remnants of spring cultivation still yield respectable harvests of insect life. The redwing digs up its food, and frozen ground means that a sizable number of these birds perish during excessively frigid winters. As winters wanes and the weather warms, the redwing flies northward to nest. The redwing nest resembles a grass cup and can be found on the ground or in trees and shrubs. Its foundation is comprised of twigs and earth, and the female somtimes embellishes it with lichen or moss. In early summer she lays from four to six eggs which are blue-green in color and are flecked with reddish-brown markings. She incubates for approximately two weeks, and the hatchlings are fed by both parents for 14 days thereafter. This artwork features an image of this unadorned member of the thrush family, which remains one of Britain's most vocal wintertime visitors. Image Size: 18 x 21 in. Overall Size: 22 x 26 in. Unframed. (B13556)
Mel Crawford (Canadian, B. 1925) "A Pause in the Sleigh Ride" Signed lower left. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Canada 17c Merry Christmas Joyeux Noel 1980 issued October 22, 1980. A fresh, soft snowfall enhances the magic of Christmas like nothing else. It brings the grand beauty of a wintry landscape, the pleasure of hearing snow creak underfoot, the longing for a cozy house and a blazing fire. Snow gives homes the smell of ski wax and wet mittens. It thrills children, who can scarcely wait to dash outdoors and build a jolly snowman. Mother's broom, Dad's old hat, two black coals, a corncob pipe and they are off. What fun winter brings for the young child; what nostalgia for the parents. The Couttes Company of Canada drew on the gaiety and tradition of winter's first snowfall when creating their company's Christmas cards -- the very first for Canada. Dating from the 1930s, these cards -- one of which is depicted on the stamp on this First Day Cover -- must have charmed many a family. On the days when the postman could trudge through the deep Canadian snow bearing packages and letters, many a young child probably waited eagerly to open the Couttes cards. Bright colors, painted ribbons, smiling figures, clever verses . . . all were part of the delightful card sealed inside the envelope. Then, carefully so as not to tear the delicate pictures, the card was hung on the Christmas tree as an ornament. From those early days, the Christmas card has become a favorite tradition in Canada, a special way of remembering friends spread far across the expansive Canadian countryside. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 17.25 x 15 in. Unframed. (B06720)
Chris Calle (American, B. 1961) "Marshall Islands Christmas" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media on Illustration Board painting. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Republic of the Marshall Islands Christmas 2000 stamp issued October 26, 2000. On Christmas Day, men and women around the world set aside their differences and come together to celebrate the birth of Christ. The festive tradition of trimming the Christmas Tree originated in 16th century Germany. By the mid-1800s, the practice had spread throughout the world. Many holiday traditions have found their way across the vast reaches of the Pacific Ocean. Christmas has been celebrated in the Marshall Islands since the 1850s, when the first American Protestant missionaries arrived. In the Marshall Islands the Christmas spirit comes alive as colorful lights and ornaments decorate streets, shops, homes and trees. The Marshall Islanders have some of the most beautiful Christmas Trees in the world -- majestic palm trees showered with sparkling lights. Christmas is the most anticipated holiday in the Marshall Islands and is celebrated with festive foot-stomping dances and music. Image Size: 14.5 x 8.75 in. Overall Size: 17.75 x 12.25 in. Unframed. (B16881)
Tom McNeely (Canadian, B. 1935) "Ameripex '86 And the Chicago Skyline" Signed lower right. Original Watercolor painting on Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 22c Ameripex '86 stamp issued May 25, 1995. To celebrate stamp collecting and to bring together philatelists from around the world, the United States sponsored Ameripex '86 -- an International Philatelic Exhibition held in Chicago, Illinois. Image Size: 20 x 17 in. Overall Size: 26.75 x 22 in. Unframed. (B09427)
Tom McNeely (Canadian, B. 1935) "The Fruited Plain" Signed lower right. Original Watercolor painting on Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the 32c Flag Over Porch Self-Adhesive Coil stamp issued January 24, 1997. "O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain/ For purple mountain majesties, above the fruited plain." When Katharine Lee Bates gazed from the summit of Pike's Peak across the rolling plains of America spreading out before her, she was inspired to write America the Beautiful, a song celebrating this nation's beauty and majesty. This painting by Tom McNeely is one of four paying tribute to America the Beautiful and to the richness and beauty of America's countryside. Image Size: 28.75 x 21 in. Overall Size: 29.75 x 21.75 in. Unframed. (B15342)
Michael Garland (American, B. 1952) "Thomas Stafford" Signed lower right. Original Acrylic painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood Commemorative Cover for the Pioneer of Flight Series, cancelled March 24, 2001. Thomas P. Stafford was born in Weatherford, Oklahoma on September 17, 1930. He graduated with honors from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1952 and accepted a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. In 1959, Stafford was named the outstanding graduate of the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. He stayed at the school as an instructor and later became chief of the Performance Branch. He was selected to NASA's second group of astronauts in September 1962. In May 1969, Stafford served as commander of Apollo 10, the first flight of Apollo's Lunar Module to the Moon. He paved the way for the first lunar landing by flying the entire landing mission profile except the actual touchdown, bringing the Lunar Module to within nine miles of the Moon's surface. Stafford's last space mission was as the American commander of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, the first international rendezvous and docking in space. On July 17, 1975, his Apollo Command Module docked with the Soyuz capsule and the last hatch between the two spacecraft was opened. Through the open passageway, Stafford clasped the hand of his Soviet counterpart, Soyuz Commander Alexei Leonov, in a symbolic gesture of a new era of space flight cooperation. Image Size: 12 x 14 in. Overall Size: 15 x 16.75 in. Unframed. (B16880)
Jim Butcher (American, B. 1944) "Winter Mischief" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 15c Cape Cod Windmill stamp issued February 7, 1980. Whirling wildly or stopping completely when not driven by the declining breeze, windmills always obey the wind. About 644 A.D. Persian millwrights discovered the power generated by attaching sails to center posts that were twirled around by the wind. Modern windmills, intricately designed and usually made of newer materials, are still based on these original principles of harnessing wind power. As successors of the ancient Persian windmills, America's mills were first built in the colonies by the Puritans. Perhaps the oldest mill on Cape Cod, the Eastham Mill, best represents these original Puritan structures. Built sometime before 1793, its style, traditionally found in the Netherlands, was once common among the mills that dotted the Atlantic coast during this country's early history. Hundreds of these mills once pumped ocean water into storage vats to extract the salt. But, once salt deposits were found inland, the process was abandoned as primitive, and the mills were allowed to decay. The years of work and wear soon took their toll on the neglected mills and, of those that actually pumped water to extract salt, not one is left standing. The Cape Cod Windmill depicted on this artwork represents those working mills. Its sails seem to recall the days when wind awakened them and rumbled their revolving wheels. And, although it has not operated for many years, it is a testimony to its miller's careful management, a respected trade that was often passed down for several generations. Image Size: 22.5 x 17.5 in. Overall Size: 28.5 x 23.5 in. Unframed. (B05999)
Dennis Lyall (American, B. 1946) "Sailing Ship of Discovery" Signed lower right. Original Oil on Canvas board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue Maximum Card for the U.S. 29c Juan Rodr?guez Cabrillo stamp issued September 28, 1992. Little is known of Juan Cabrillo's early life. It is believed he was born in Portugal, and as a young man may have participated in Panfilo de Narvaez's failed disciplinary expedition against Hernan Cortes, conqueror of the Aztecs of Mexico. He apparently abandoned Narvaez at Vera Cruz and joined forces with Cortes. Some sources speculate that Cabrillo later joined Pedro de Alvarado and helped to conquer the region now occupied by Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Hoping to find cities filled with gold and a water passage between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, Cabrillo set sail in 1542 from New Spain -- present day Mexico -- to explore the Pacific coast of North America. The first European to set eyes on the California coastline, Cabrillo sailed to San Diego and San Pedro harbors, Santa Catalina island, the islands of the Santa Barbara Channel and Monterey Bay. He sailed as far north as Point Reyes, but missed the San Francisco bay area. Cabrillo moved south to winter on San Miguel Island, and died in early 1543 from injuries suffered in a fall. However, Cabrillo's quest continued as his pilot, Bartolome Farmers, sailed north later that year and is believed to have reached the Oregon coast. Although he did not discover cities filled with riches or a passageway to the Atlantic coast, Cabrillo and his accomplishments are commemorated at the Cabrillo National Monument at San Diego Bay. Image Size: 15.25 x 20.5 in. Overall Size: 17.75 x 22.5 in. Unframed. (B13971)
Dick Simms (American, B. 1932) "Stutz Bearcat 1933" Signed lower left. Original Oil on Acrylic Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue Maximum Card for the U.S. 11c Stutz Bearcat 1933 stamp issued June 11, 1985. Harry C. Stutz had designed automobiles for fourteen years before starting his own car company in 1910. The first automobile Stutz produced was a racing car that he built in only five weeks and entered in the first Indianapolis 500 auto race in 1911. Although the car did not win the race, it averaged almost seventy miles-per-hour and required no mechanical adjustments during the entire race. In 1914, Stutz introduced the legendary "Bearcat" model which became one of the best known sports cars in America. The Bearcat featured a low chassis, raked steering column, two bucket seats and a three speed gearbox. While Stutz knew the quality of his cars, he also knew the value of publicity. Therefore, when a customer brought back his newly acquired Bearcat, protesting that its performance was below standard, Stutz handed the car over to the famous driver E.G. "Cannonball" Baker, who used the very same car to break the trans-American speed record. This feat helped secure the reputation of the legendary Stutz Bearcat Sportscar. Image Size: 12.25 x 17 in. Overall Size: 15.25 x 19.75 in. Unframed. (B09612)
Donald Moss (1920 - 2010) "Trinity Church" Boston. Signed lower left. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.This painting was published on a Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 15c Trinity Church, Boston stamp issued on October 9, 1980. Trinity Church, one of America's great nineteenth century churches stands in Boston's Copley Square, both monument and temple of America's freedom of religion and the revolution in American architecture effected by architect Henry Hobson Richardson (1838-1886). Originally planned in 1872 at the urging of Trinity Church's Rector Phillips Brooks -- universally known for his beautiful Christmas carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem" -- Trinity Church was consecrated in 1877, but was not completed until 1897. Its style was a free rendering of the French Romanesque which flourished in eleventh century France. Its silhouette was Byzantine. Its lantern tower influenced by Spain's Salamanca Cathedral. And its centralized Byzantine Greek-cross plan inspired by St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice, which the glowing color of the great barrel vaults evokes today. The effect was a temple of worship which made one think he had a pass-key to the Golden Gates. And it was most importantly Richardson's first use of what came to be called Richardson Romanesque style, which made him the first American architect to have an international reputation as well as the most important architect of his generation in America. Though truly neither Richardson's, nor Romanesque, the style inspired thousands of buildings across America between 1880 and 1895, and emphasized honest use of materials and structure -- a principle leading directly to the twentieth century's "new architecture." Image Size: 14.5 x 15 in. Overall Size: 20 x 17.25 in. Unframed. (B06019)
Ivan Kozlov (Russian, B. 1937) "Red-Crested Pochard" Signed and dated ('90) lower right. Original Watercolor painting on Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on a First Day Cover for a Russia Duck stamp issued July 1, 1990. The Red-crested Pochard is a good-looking European duck, about the same size as the Mallard. Like all diving ducks, the Red-crested Pochard prefers to be out in the middle of its home waters and therefore is very easy to observe, though sometimes only through field glasses at great distances. In fact, this duck is now found solely on large, open expanses of water and will approach the banks only at nesting time, when it searches for the camouflaging thickets of reeds where it hides its nest. The handsome drake can be recognized by its vivid orangish-red bill and big red head, black chest and brown wings with orange and white markings. The plump brown hen sports crisp white cheek patches. This waterfowl breeds extensively in Eurasia and its playful courtship antics delight duck enthusiasts in the USSR, making this bird the perfect choice to grace a Soviet postage stamp. Ivan Koslov's beautiful stamp design and handsome cachet art faithfully record the essence of this lively bird. The cachet features a mated pair of Red-crested Pochards descending toward the marshy banks of their Soviet lake habitat. These birds' powerful wings are a focal point of the picture and the hen's legs, extended for a landing, are clearly set far back on her body, attesting to the fact that the Red-crest is a diving duck. The position of the legs makes the duck awkward on land, but contributes greatly to its maneuverability under the water. Image Size: 6.75 x 5.75 in. Overall Size: 9.75 x 7.75 in. Unframed. (B12461)
Jim Butcher (American, B. 1944) "Probes of the Sun/Space Achievement" Signed and dated (1981) lower right. Original Oil painting on Canvas. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. Space Achievements 18c Probes of the Sun stamp issued May 21, 1981. Two hundred and seventy miles above the earth provided an excellent vantage point for Skylab's solar instruments in 1973. Here the sun's ultraviolet and X-ray emissions are not absorbed by the earth's atmosphere but can be recorded directly, exposing a wealth of information unavailable to astronomers on the surface. Also, the extremely faint outer atmosphere of the sun, the corona, can be seen in detail from earth only during rare total solar eclipses, a few minutes at a time. Above the atmosphere, Skylab could observe the corona nearly continuously. These advantages governed the selection of Skylab's data-gathering telescopes: two X-ray instruments, one from American Science and Engineering, the other from Marshall Space Flight Center; two ultraviolet instruments from the Naval Research Lab and a third from Harvard College Observatory; and a coronagraph from the High Altitude Observatory in Colorado. The astronauts operating these instruments had great "scientific leverage." Watching televised displays in Skylab, they made decisions on when, where and how to use each instrument. The flight crews were only the visible part of an enormous behind-the-scenes effort. More than two hundred scientists and engineers monitored and helped plan daily operations of the instruments. Image Size: 18.25 x 18.25 in. Overall Size: 22 x 22 in. Unframed. (B06947)
John Swatsley (American, B. 1937) "African Fish Eagle" Signed lower right. Original Oil on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This artwork originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 14c Official Mail Postal Card issued February 26, 1985. The grandeur of eagles has inspired men since the Stone Age when drawings of eagles first appeared in European caves. Indeed, the eagle is so respected that it is used as a symbol for everything from the seals of great nations to the human soul. And rightly so, for the eagle is the most majestic of all birds. Few if any other birds dare challenge this royal monarch of the skies, for while normally peaceful, the eagle is capable of defending his territory with frightful authority. Devoted parents, eagles carefully tend their young and share in the responsibilities for feeding and guarding the eaglets. The African Fish Eagle, depicted on this artwork, is one of the most striking of all eagles. Similar in appearance to the Bald Eagle, the Fish Eagle has a white head and breast but lacks the Bald Eagle's white tail. A native of the tropical regions of Africa, the African Fish Eagle is skilled at catching fish while skimming above the surface of rivers and lakes. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20.25 x 18 in. Unframed. (B09488)
Dennis Lyall (American, B. 1946) "The Stars and Stripes" Signed lower left. Original Oil on Canvas board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 33c Stars and Stripes Se-tenant Sheet of 20 Classic Collection Series stamps issued June 14, 2000. In 1790, Rhode Island joined the Union -- the last of the original 13 colonies to become a state. The American flag proudly displayed a field of 13 red and white stripes, and 13 white stars on a blue canton. By 1794, two new states had joined the Union -- Vermont and Kentucky -- and Congress voted to add two stars and two stripes, making a 15-stars-and-stripes flag. By 1817, five more states had joined the Union. The flag would be too cluttered if a star and stripe were added for each new state, making a 20-stars-and-stripes design. Navy captain and hero of the War of 1812, Samuel Chester Reid proposed a flag design comprising 13 alternate red and white stripes, representing the 13 original colonies, and a blue canton with a star for each state. This design would allow Congress to easily add new stars to the flag without altering the overall pattern. On April 4, 1818, Congress voted to accept Reid's flag design. For every new state that joined the Union, a star would be added to the flag on the following July 4th. Because Congress did not specify how the stars should be arranged, flagmakers experimented with various designs. Image Size: 20 x 25.5 in. Overall Size: 23 x 28 in. Unframed. (B16856)
Paul Wegner (American, 20th C.) "Saddle Up" 1986 Bronze. Numbered (105/175) on base. Comes with certificate of authenticity. Paul Wegner soon after graduating college and becoming a professional sculptor Wegner was given his first large commission by the National Geographic Society in 1976. The project required Paul Wegner to create 9 life size figures of primitive man for their new museum exhibit in Washington D.C. Paul Wegner had meetings with archeologists from the Smithsonian, such as Mary Leaky, Dr. Dale Stewart, and many more from National Geographic, including their very talented creative staff. Research for this project led Wegner to the works of painter Norman Rockwell, sculptor Rodin, and more importantly, Rodin's protege, Malvina Hoffman. What sparked Wegner's interest, aside from their great approach to depicting human anatomy and expression was infusing emotion into the faces of their work. Dimensions: 31 x 25 x 17 in. Approx. Weight: 40 lbs.
Erik Nitsche (Swiss, 1908 - 1998) "Graphic of Flags of United Nations" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Germany 80pf International Year of Peace stamp issued June 20, 1986. Since its founding in 1945 -- following the horrible struggle and destruction of World War II -- the member-countries of the United Nations have dedicated themselves to the mediation of international disputes to avoid armed conflict, and to engendering a spirit of peaceful cooperation between goverments around the world. During the celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the United Naitons, the General Assembly proclaimed 1986 as "The International Year of Peace." The year highlighted and promoted the joint efforts of United Nations member-countries in increasing the climate for world peace and cooperation. This artwork represents the national flags of the United Nations members in a cathedral-like abstraction, highlighted with the blue and white colors of the United Nations flag. Image Size: 12 x 14 in. Overall Size: 15 x 20 in. Unframed. (B10463)
Erik Nitsche (Swiss, 1908 - 1998) "Representation of Satellites in Orbit" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Germany 80pf European Satellite Technology stamp issued June 20, 1986. Since the launch of Sputnik 1 by the Soviet Union in 1957, satellites have played an increasingly important role in man's ability to gather and transmit information. Although the United States and the Soviet Union have been long considered the leaders in satellite technology, other nations have begun and expanded their own satellite technology. This is particularly true in Europe. In 1980, a Franco-German agreement was reached about the development, production, and launch of two direct broadcasting satellites of which one was intended for the area of the Federal Republic of Germany (known as TV-SAT) and the other for the area of the Republic of France (known as TDF 1). With the launch of the German broadcasting satellite, and within the framework of the joint project, full attention was paid to the impressive advance made in satellite technology and the efficiency of this burgeoning European industry. Image Size: 12 x 14 in. Overall Size: 15 x 20 in. Unframed. (B09753)
Arthur Singer (New York, 1917 - 1990) "Western Meadowlark and Goldenrod" Signed lower right. Original Watercolor paintng on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the 20c Nebraska: Western Meadowlark and Goldenrod stamp issued on April 14, 1982. Western Meadowlark - After leaving the nest, the young Western Meadowlarks spend about two weeks with their parents, learning to hunt beetles, grasshoppers, and crickets. In winter the birds subsist on seeds and waste grain. Not only has the Meadowlark befriended all America by cheering people with his flute-like, liquid songs, but he is also a helpful ally in beating back the encroachment of weeds and insects. Meadowlarks live mainly in monogamy, but a male may have several females. Both sexes are noted for their jubilant whistles. Meadowlarks are decidedly ground birds and the females often build roofed-over nests. Goldenrod - Each yellow spray on the Goldenrod is made up of hundreds of individual flowers. The erect, strong stalk is branched, and each branch bears on its upper side a number of small flower heads about one-third of an inch in height. Each head is, in turn, made up of very tiny florets packed tightly in a green cup. These miniature florets either have a banner petal to attract insects or are tube-shaped and produce the pollen and nectar prized by the visitors. Both types of florets produce seeds. As the floret fades, the fuzzy tuft growing near its base develops. This tuft acts as a balloon floating the ripe seed away on gentle puffs of wind. Image Size: 13.75 x 11.75 in. Overall Size: 19.5 x 17.5 in. Unframed. (B05106)
Arthur Singer (New York, 1917 - 1990) "Mockingbird and Iris" Signed lower right. Original Watercolor painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the 20c Tennessee: Mockingbird and Iris stamp issued on April 14, 1982. Mockingbird - Intensely territorial, the Mockingbird stands ready to attack any creature that invades his domain, especially fellow Mockingbirds. "Dogfights" involving six or more Mockingbirds bombing on each other are not uncommon. It is thought by some scientists that the Mockingbird's song may have survival value. This bird's continuous imitation of other sounds may be designed to better express individual differences. There is considerable evidence that song is not merely an announcement of the species, but also an individual bird's identity tag. The Mockingbird's so-called courtship dance, which involves flashing of the wings, is not that at all, but rather vying for position in territorial fights. Iris - There are more than two hundred species of Irises that grow wild, and thousands of hybrids, but all have two common characteristics: sword-shaped leaves and a distinctive flower structure consisting of three usually erect petals, called standards, and three outer petals, or sepals, that hang down from the base of the blossom. The arrangement of these parts is peculiar and their duties unusual. A bee, instead of settling on the petals that arch upward from the flower's center, uses the broad sepals as a landing field. The sepals curve downward and have honey-guide markings and sometimes golden "beards." Irises come in a stunning range of colors -- hence the name Iris, after the Greek goddess of the rainbow. Image Size: 13.75 x 11.75 in. Overall Size: 19.5 x 17.5 in. Unframed. (B05100)
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