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Crawhall (Joseph).- Tuer (Andrew W.) London Cries with six charming Children, one of 250 signed proof large paper copies, leaves printed recto only, 10 hand-coloured illustrations after Rowlandson, 6 stipple engravings, each in two states, "in the Bartolozzi style" and 27 other illustrations including 3 hand-coloured cuts by Crawhall, one of the "children" plates slightly nicked and repaired, ownership stamp of Harding Browne on endpaper, original tan cloth-backed boards, lightly discoloured, paper label, head and foot of spine little snagged, 4to, Field and Tuer, Leadenhall Press, [1883].

[Oates (Titus)] The Witch of Endor: or, a Plea for the Divine Administration by the Agency of Good and Evil Spirits, faint blind-stamp (A2), ex-library with very faint remnants of accession stamp to title verso, previous owner's pencil notes to endpapers, later morocco backed boards, rubbed, 8vo, John Millan, 1736.⁂ Relatively scarce with only 7 copies on ESTC.

Games and word puzzles.- New Collection of Enigmas, Charades, Transpositions, &c (A), new (third) edition, half-title, solutions included at end, contemporary signature on title, uncut in original boards, marked, joints broken, spine worn, 1810 § Wheatley (H.B.) Of Anagrams, first edition, unobtrusive blind-stamp of Wigan reference library, modern calf-backed boards, t.e.g., 1862, 8vo (2)⁂ The rare Wheatley work also covers macaronic poetry, chronograms, acrostics, palindromes and other literary devices.

A mid 20th century scrap album; postcards; School Boy stamp album;

Hallmarked Sterling Silver Mounted Oak Stamp Box

A folder and Stanley Gibbons Postbox stamp albums containing a quantity of stamps to include British, European and world stamps, a quantity of first day covers relating to British liners, various countries, a quantity of loose stamps and small quantity of special approvals stamp books from The Universal Stamp Company etc.

A hallmarked silver R.J. Carr clock, marked 925, a gentlemen's brush with hallmarked silver engine turned top, and a cased part manicure set, some items with silver stamp (af) (3). CONDITION REPORT Manicure set is incomplete and case is badly damaged.

A pair of RAF suede flying boots, with sheepskin interior, size 7, 10147, Itshide soles and Classic heels, Air Ministry stamp.

A BRITISH NUMBER 9 BAYONET, 19.5CM BLADE WITH STAMP 1282

A COLLECTION OF VARIOUS ITEMS TO INCLUDE A VINTAGE CAST STAMP MACHINE AND A CARVED HUSKY SLED ETC

A mid 20th century teak G-plan small sideboard, makers stamp to drawer. H.71 W.133 D.43cm

A STRONG BOX CONTAINING STAMP AND BANKNOTE COLLECTIONS to include Penny Black, Penny Reds, lots of first class stamps with early one pound stamp, uncirculated banknotes: Jersey £5, I.O.M fifty pence, Falklands £5, N. Zealand, Haiti, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast, 1957 Helmeted Britannia, Jersey pair UNC £5, £1, Lowther £5 UNC, Royal Bank Scotland £5 1944 fair, 1965, Clydesdale £5 Cashier Fairbain, page replacement £1, 1978/88 Scottish Clydesdale & Bank of Scotland £1 notes, others etc

TWO BOXES AND AN ALBUM OF COINS AND COMMEMORATIVES to include a small amount of coin/stamp covers and first day issues ie Queen Mum, Euro Tunnel, V E Day, Diana, Carded, Nelson & Trafalgar pair of crowns, British Legion, Diamond Wedding Queen Mother, Coronation 2003, Vivat 2006, Diana 1999, Victorian 2001, Royal Navy 2003, Alderney Total Eclipse 1999, Harry Potter crown 2007, Britannia 2000, Victoria Cross pair of 50p carded coins, England Football commemorative five pounds, Boxing London 2012 carded fifty pence, 2005 three coin Britains New Coinage, other boxes of coins including an amount of silver threepence coins, a bag containing approximately forty euro coins etc

A LARGE BOX OF MAINLY UK AND ROYAL MINT BOXED COINS, to include a silver proof Mary Rose Piedfort two pounds, a R.M. Britannia 2009, last flight Concord silver proof crown size 10 dollar coin, a Spink boxed silver H.M. Yacht Britannia 1954-1975 issue (251), a 2001 silver Britannia, a Victoria 25mm silver medallette, a one dollar Queen Mum 1994 coin, a 2009. 999 silver maple coin, a Singapore silver ten dollar coin, an Edward VII Alexandra Coronation Medal 1902, a 2009 walking Liberty silver coin, a silver South Georgia two pound coin, a prestige stamp booklet 2012 with lots of first class stamps, a Gibraltar 5oz silver coin (the final voyage of the QEII) 2008, Henry V worn and clipped groat, Henry III silver penny (good to fair), two Roman coins with COA's, Victoria and George III silver coins, a RM 2009 silver proof five pound (countdown to London) coin, a 1986 silver cased two pound coin (Scotland Commonwealth Games), a Cook Island 2002 Commonwealth Games coin, lots of London Olympics 50p coins, some in unopened packaging, 1990 and 2001 silver proof Piedfort one pound coins, 1983, 1985 x 2, 1984, 1987, 1991, 2002 silver one pound coin, 1995 United Nations UK silver proof two pound coin, boxed with certificates, an amount of five pound coins, some silver commemoratives, etc

Brian Sanders (British, B. 1937) "Side Trawler -- Fishing Boat" 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 for the Great Britain 18p Side Trawler stamp issue of September 23, 1981. Just off North America's Atlantic Coast extends a wide continental shelf, in some areas reaching as far as five hundred miles from the shore. Large areas of this shelf form underwater plateaus where the fishing grounds are among the best in the world. Annually, fishermen from Canada, the United States and Europe take about nine billion pounds of fish from this area. The Trawler pictured in this artwork is one craft which sails the icy waters of the North Atlantic in search of fish. Once the men locate their prey, they lay out their trawler nets. A huge flat funnel net is dragged on rollers along the seabed while the net's mouth is kept open by water pressure on two door-shaped objects called otter boards. The noise of the net disturbs the fish and they attempt to escape. However, they soon tire and are hopelessly trapped in the net's funnel. Because areas the men fish are so treacherous, they equip their boat with steam hoses and axes which they use to remove ice from the decks and riggings. Should the heavy ice be allowed to build up, the craft would surely capsize. Even though modern trawlers are fitted with many safety devices which offer some protection, it is still quite common for a vessel to be lost at sea without a trace. Although working in the North Atlantic is a dangerous life, the fish are so plentiful that men gladly brave the fearsome hazards of icy, storm-tossed seas to reap great catches. Image Size: 12 x 14.25 in. Overall Size: 16 x 22.25 in. Unframed. (B06850)

Brian Sanders (British, B. 1937) "German Battleship Tirpitz Sunk" Artist notes in margins. Original Oil painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 50c German Battleship Tirpitz Sunk 1944 stamp issued November 12, 1994. The German battleship Tirpitz was a sister ship of the ill-fated Bismarck, sunk by the British in May 1941. With a full displacement of more than 52,000 tons and an overall length of 822 feet, she was one of the largest battleships afloat during World War II. Adolf Hitler was paranoid about losing the Tirpitz because of the serious effect it could have on German morale. Since the ship was also a deterrent against British invasion in the north, Hitler ordered it to be kept in a protective Norwegian fjord. One British bomber attack after another failed to sink her -- until November 12, 1944, when 32 Lancasters managed to drop 29 "Tallboy" bombs on the behemoth. In a matter of minutes, the great battleship capsized and sank, taking nearly 1,000 men to their deaths. Image Size: 13.5 x 16.25 in. Overall Size: 16.5 x 19.5 in. Unframed. (B14852)

Brian Sanders (British, B. 1937) "Battle of Java Sea - Sinking of the de Ruyter" Artist notes in margins. Oil on Canvas. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the Republic of the Marshall Islands 29c Battle of the Java Sea 1942 stamp issued February 27, 1992. After a triumphant sweep through Malaya and Burma, the Japanese imperial war machine turned its sights toward Java, a Dutch East Indies island rich in manganese and oil. On February 27, 1942, a massive Japanese task force engaged the Allied Combined Striking Force commanded by Dutch Admiral Kar Koorman. Hampered by language and communication problems, the hastily-organized Allied effort lacked air support -- a fatal error. Doorman and his flagship were lost almost immediately. The rest of the strike force struggled to withstand the Japanese juggernaut, but the battle was over in two days. The enemy destroyed all but five of the 15 Allied warships, securing for Japan a resounding victory and another island stepping stone toward Australia. Image Size: 13.25 x 16.5 in. Overall Size: 17.25 x 20.25 in. Unframed. (B13567)

Brian Sanders (British, B. 1937) "Battle of Barents Sea - H.M.S. Sheffield" Artist notes in margins. Oil on Canvas. 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 Marshall Islands Battle of the Barents Sea 29c H.M.S. Sheffield stamp issued December 31, 1992. Shortly after 7 a.m., the Admiral Hipper opened fire on the convoy and within hours had sunk the destroyers Achates and Onslow. As the German battleship Lutzow sailed into the midst of the merchantmen, two British light cruisers -- the Sheffield and Jamaica -- appeared on the horizon, fired on the Hipper and scored a direct hit. Vice Admiral Oscar Kummetz, the ships's commander, ordered his cruiser to withdraw. The Lutzow followed posthaste. Enraged by the fleet's failure, Hitler ordered it scrapped. A compromise introduced by the new Grand Admiral, Karl Donitz, ultimately saved Germany's navy. Image Size: 13.5 x 16.25 in. Overall Size: 17.5 x 20.25 in. Unframed. (B14033)

David K. Stone (American, 1922 - 2001) "HMS Buxton" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 45c HMS Buxton ex-USS Edwards stamp issued September 3, 1990. Great Britain's Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill had been at his post only a few days when he made an urgent request to the United States for military aid. Thus was born the agreement which would send some fifty older U.S. destroyers to help fight the swelling Nazi empire. Several months after Churchill's request, the first of the ships made its way across the Atlantic into British hands. The USS Edwards was transferred on October 4, 1940 and renamed the HMS Buxton. Shown here flying the White Ensign of the British Royal Navy, the HMS Buxton was used primarily as a training ship for Canadian sailors. She also escorted convoys of troop and cargo ships to protect them from enemy attack, especially by the dreaded German U-boats. She survived the war to be scrapped in 1945. Image Size: 14.75 x 23.75 in. Overall Size: 23.75 x 27 in. Unframed. (B12586)

Dean Ellis (1920 - 2009) "USS Portland" Signed lower right. Original Tempera painting on Illustration Board. Comes with artists original notations. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.This painting was originally published on the Federated States of Micronesia 60c USS Portland stamp issued September 2, 1995. This painting celebrates the arrival of peace at the end of World War II and commemorates the United States Navy's liberation of Chuuk (Truk), Yap, Kosrae and Pohnpei from Japanese occupation between September 2 and September 11, 1945. Chuuk, Yap, Kosrae and Pohnpei comprise the four states of today's Federated States of Micronesia. One of the U.S. Navy warships which carried out the liberation following the September 2, 1945 surrender of Japan in Tokyo Harbor was the cruiser USS Portland (CA-33), where Japanese Lt. General Shunzaburo Mugikura relinquished control of Chuuk on September 2, 1945. Image Size: 11.25 x 14 in. Overall Size: 14 x 16.5 in. Unframed. (B15226)

Dean Ellis (American, 1920 - 2009) "USS Soley" Signed lower right. Original Tempura Painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Federated States of Micronesia 60c USS Soley stamp issued September 2, 1995. This painting celebrates the arrival of peace at the end of World War II and commemorates the United States Navy's liberation of Chuuk (Truk), Yap, Kosrae and Pohnpei from Japanese occupation between September 2 and September 11, 1945. Chuuk, Yap, Kosrae and Pohnpei comprise the four states of today's Federated States of Micronesia. One of the U.S. Navy warships which carried out the liberation following the September 2, 1945 surrender of Japan in Tokyo Harbor was the destroyer USS Soley (DD-707), docked in the shadow of Lelu Island in sight of the Japanese surrender on Kosrae, September 8, 1945. Image Size: 11 x 14 in. Overall Size: 14 x 16.5 in. Unframed. (B15243)

Dennis Lyall (American, B. 1946) "Bailey Gatzert Riverboat" Signed lower right. Original Oil 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. 32c Riverboat stamp issued August 22, 1996. Most of America's steamboats were built on the Ohio River and its two tributaries, the Allegheny and the Monongahela, which meet at the scenic city of Pittsburgh. The typical steamboat design included a main deck that held the boiler machinery and the engines, located between two great paddle wheels. However, some steamboats were designed with a single stern paddle wheel and most of the large Mississippi riverboats utilized side wheels for better maneuverability. In addition to the machinery, the main deck also contained passenger accommodations, kitchens and cargo space. The boiler deck held the passenger's staterooms, barroom, main dining cabin and offices. A promenade encircled the outer portion of the staterooms, similar to a veranda. In the early years of steamboats, passenger cabins were named after states -- thus they became known as staterooms. The hurricane deck held a group of officer's cabins, known as the texas. The name was added as the state of Texas joined the Union in 1845. Above the texas was the pilot house. The names of steamboats were commonly painted on the sides of a vessel, but the Bailey Gatzert's name was heralded on the billowing flag above the pilot house. Image Size: 14.5 x 12.5 in. Overall Size: 16.75 x 14.5 in. Unframed. (B15425)

Dennis Lyall (American, B. 1946) "Far West Riverboat" 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 Cover for the U.S. 32c Far West Riverboat stamp issued August 22, 1996. In June of 1876, Captain Grant P. Marsh and the crew of the Far West waited along the Little Big Horn River -- about 11 miles from where General George Armstrong Custer and his 7th U.S. Cavalry were fighting -- for news from the battleground. Suddenly, Curley, a Crow scout who rode with Custer, burst through the thicket at the river's edge and came aboard. He frantically tried to explain through sign language what had happened at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Given a piece of paper and a pencil, he drew two circles, one inside the other. Pointing to the outer circle Curley exclaimed, "Sioux!" and to the inner circle, "Absaroka!" -- a Crow word meaning "The People" used to describe the U.S. soldiers. Standing, Curley pounded his chest saying, "Poof! Poof Absaroka." The crew began to understand that Custer and his cavalry had all been killed. Word soon arrived from the battleground, ordering the Far West to wait for the arrival of 52 wounded soldiers. Once the injured had been brought aboard, Captain Marsh had a challenging and frightening task at hand, getting to the telegraph station in Bismark, Dakota Territory, quickly and safely. Traveling along the Little Bighorn River and the Bighorn, Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers, Marsh and his crew made the 710 mile voyage in 54 hours. Marsh's skill and nerve, and the Far West's steampower, brought confirmation of one of history's most controversial battles, and one of the U.S. Army's most crushing defeats, to a stunned and disbelieving America. Image Size: 14.5 x 12.5 in. Overall Size: 17 x 14.5 in. Unframed. (B15531)

17th Century Old Master Flemish School Sepia on Laid Paper Drawing. With Stamp and Illegible Inscription verso. Depicting a Baroque Nativity Scene. Sight Size: 4.75 x 7.75 in Overall Framed Size: 12.5 x 16 in. Framed behind glass.

Charles J Lundgren (New York, Connecticut, 1911 - 1988) "Golden Hind Sailing Ship" 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. 20c Roanoke Voyages stamp issued July 13, 1984. On December 13, 1577, Francis Drake set sail from Plymouth Sound, England, on a daring three year odyssey that would take him into oceans hitherto explored only by the Spanish. Drake and about 160 men ventured forth in five vessels: the flagship the Pelican (which he later renamed the Golden Hind), the Elizabeth, the Marigold and the supply ships Swan and Benedict. Of the five, only the Golden Hind and a crew of about fifty men completed the voyage. After safely passing through violent storms in the Strait of Magellan, Drake raided Spanish settlements along the west coast of South America. Drake captured two vessels with cargoes of gold, silver and jewels that were so heavy, they caused the Golden Hind to sail below her watermark. Continuing northward, Drake sighted what is now Canada's west coast. But bitter cold forced him to turn back, and he set a course south and Islands), where he negotiated a treaty with the local sultan. From Java to Sierra Leone on the Cape of Good Hope -- 9,700 miles -- Drake sailed without a port of call or a stop for maintenance, for it had been nearly three years since the voyage had begun. Upon his return to England in September of 1580, he was greeted as a national hero. Queen Elizabeth I came on board his ship to knight him Sir Francis Drake. His fortune and reputation as a brilliant navigator were made -- and the way was opened for England to become a global seapower. Image Size: 18.5 x 18.5 in. Overall Size: 26 x 24 in. Unframed. (B08537)

Dean Ellis (New York, 1920 - 2009) "Marshall Islands Becomes U.N. Trust Territory" Original Tempera painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 55c Marshall Islands Becomes U.N. Trust Territory, 1947 stamp issued May 2, 1996. World War II catastrophically upset the lives of the people of the Marshall Islands, and dramatically changed their perceptions of the world and their places in it. The aftermath of the conflict found the Marshalls suffering from various degrees of devastation and want. Food and medical supplies were either scarce or nonexistent; communications and services were disrupted; many islanders had been displaced; boats and structures had been destroyed; savings invested in Japanese banks were wiped out; bombardment had even depopulated the reefs of marine life. A long-range redevelopment plan was clearly needed and it came in April 1947 when the United Nations Security Council approved a trusteeship agreement for the Marshall Islands designating the United States as the administrative authority. Image Size: 8.5 x 15 in. Overall Size: 9.75 x 16.75 in. Unframed. (B15344)

Herb Kawainui Kane (American, 1928 - 2011) "1800s Life in Marshalls - Breadfruit" 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 First Day Cover for the Republic of the Marshall Islands 29c Woman with Breadfruit stamp issued September 15, 1993. The memorable HMS Bounty, which saw Captain William Bligh ousted by mutiny, was originally on a mission to retrieve breadfruit trees from Tahiti. This starchy fruit was a vital source of sustenance for many islanders, including the Marshallese. Breadfruit not only provided nourishment, but the tree itself was a valuable source of wood used in the construction of canoes. Even the tree's sap was employed, after being rendered over a fire, as glue and caulk. In 1817, French artist Louis Choris sketched the people of the Marshall Islands, often portraying them in the midst of their day-to-day activities. Image Size: 14.75 x 18 in. Overall Size: 18 x 21.25 in. Unframed. (B14470)

Shannon Stirnweis (B. 1931) "Cherokee Strip Land Run" 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 of the 29c Cherokee Strip stamp issued April 17, 1993. During the late 1800s, large portions of Oklahoma were claimed by pioneer families who envisioned "a country which for several months in the year holds winter in its hand, spring in its arms and summer in its lap, all at the same time." But many years before, this "Promised Land" had been off limits to white settlers. In 1828, the U.S. Congress had reserved Oklahoma for the Indians. By 1880, Oklahoma's Indian Territory consisted of five republics, or nations, consisting of over 60 tribes. During this same period, railroads hungry for revenues and whites in search of property set their sights on Oklahoma. Some formed organized bands, known as "Boomers," and defied Federal law by attempting to settle in the state. Though most of their efforts were thwarted, Congress eventually opened up 2,000,000 acres of western Indian Territory to homesteaders, bringing on a series of land runs. Much preparation went into running such a race: sharply pointed stakes bearing family initials and tents fashioned from colorful quilts were made by most hopeful land seekers. Every type of conveyance, from horse to bicycle, was carefully scrutinized and maintained. The most famous race was held at northern Oklahoma's Cherokee Strip on September 16, 1893. It was a sweltering day of 100 degrees, but despite the oppressive heat over 100,000 people eagerly assembled at the strip's borders. At noon, the signal was given and the anxious crowd stampeded onto the land staking their claims on a new and exciting future. Image Size: 21.25 x 18 in. Overall Size: 24.75 x 20.75 in. Unframed. (B14198)

Shannon Stirnweis (Arizona, New York, New Hampshire Oregon, B. 1931) "Troop of Conquistadors" 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 of the 32 Spanish Settlement stamp issued July 11, 1998. In 1598, King Philip of Spain appointed Don Juan de Onate Governor and Captain-General of Nuevo Mexico and ordered him to discover a route from Nuevo Espana to Nuevo Mexico. With 130 soldiers, their families, 5,000 head of cattle and sheep, de Onate blazed a trail across the Southwest. Officially called the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the historic 1200-mile-long road is commonly known as El Camino Real or the Royal Road. Originating in Mexico City, the Camino Real passes through Zacatecas, Durango, Chihuahua, La Toma del Rio and El Paso del Norte before reaching the area of present day Santa Fe, New Mexico. Along the way, de O?ate and his expedition established San Gabriel, the first European settlement west of the Mississippi. Later they founded San Juan and San Pedro, the first permanent settlements in New Mexico, as well as Santa Fe. The Royal Road of exploration and trade linked Mexico and the United States for four centuries. Image Size: 17.5 x 15 in. Overall Size: 22.75 x 19 in. Unframed. (B16088)

Brian Sanders (British, B. 1937) "German Invasion of Yugoslavia" Signed 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 Republic of the Marshall Islands 29c Germany Invades the Balkans stamp issued April 6, 1991. The invasion of Russia was to be Hitler's major offensive for 1941. Success required a stable southern flank, and the Balkan nation of Yugoslavia remained stubbornly uncooperative. Coerced into signing the Tripartite Pact, Yugoslavia regent Prince Paul announced the alliance to his people, who staged public displays of outraged defiance. Hitler reacted with swift and savage fury. On April 6, Palm Sunday, German bombers appeared over Belgrade and released a torrent of destruction on the unsupecting city. When April 6 dawned, seventeen thousand residents lay dead. Belgrade's proud parliament building survived the bombardment, but German Panzers moved in to ensure that little else remained. Operation Punishment had begun. Image Size: 13.75 x 16.75 in. Overall Size: 16 x 19 in. Unframed. (B12810)

Brian Sanders (British, B. 1937) "Invasion of Norway" Oil 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 25c Invasion of Norway 1940 stamp issued April 9, 1990. At first glance, Norway would hardly seem worth the attention of World War II's powerful rivals. Still, this Scandinavian country, along with Denmark, rated high in the plans of Adolf Hitler, and by extension, Winston Churchill. Hitler saw in Norway a perfect base for raids against England and a pipeline for raw materials imported from Sweden. The Germans attacked on the morning of April 9, 1940, and although the Norwegians and their allies fought valiantly to repel the Nazis and protect the country, Hitler's attack squelched the resistance and forced Norway into the oppressive stranglehold of Germany's powerful embrace. Like Denmark, the country would remain occupied until 1945. Image Size: 15.25 x 18.25 in. Overall Size: 16 x 18.5 in. Unframed. (B12352)

David K. Stone (American, 1922 - 2001) "Battle of the Bulge - Abrams and McAuliffe" Original Oil painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 50c Battle of the Bulge 1944 - Lt. Col. Creighton W. Abrams and Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe stamp issued December 16, 1994. At 11:30 a.m. on December 22, 1944, Lieutenant Hellmuth Henke and four other Germans approached the beleaguered Allied lines at Bastogne under a flag of truce. Word spread among the Americans that the Germans were surrendering. When Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe realized the Germans were asking him to surrender, his disappointed comment was "Aw, nuts!" In preparing his written reply, the same words seemed appropriate. When the Germans asked for an explanation, the response was even more salty. McAuliffe's confidence inspired the men of the 101st Airborne Division, who held Bastogne until General George Patton's tanks arrived. By December 26, the tide of battle had turned. McAuliffe earned the Distinguished Service Cross for his conduct at Bastogne. The 101st Airborne Division received the rarely awarded Presidential Unit Citation for their heroic defense. Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe is pictured here with Lieutenant Colonel Creighton W. Abrams. Image Size: 24 x 14.5 in. Overall Size: 27 x 23.75 in. Unframed. (B14902)

Mark Schuler (American, B. 1951) "Ulysses Deep Space Probe" 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 Great Britain 22p Europe in Space stamp issued April 23, 1991. On October 6, 1990, the space shuttle Discovery lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral. Six hours later, the crew of Discovery opened its payload doors to deploy valuable European cargo -- the deep-space probe Ulysses. This extraordinary joint NASA-ESA (European Space Agency) venture culminated decades of intensive research and development by the ESA's unique commonwealth of science. Slated to be the first spacecraft to explore the polar regions of the Sun, Ulysses ignited the first of its three upper-stage motors within seventy minutes after discharge from Discovery and rocketed toward Jupiter, its first stop during a five-year mission. The probe carried a payload comprised of instruments designed to measure the solar wind, the heliospheric magnetic field, radio bursts and plasma rays, solar energetic particles and galactic cosmic rays, interstellar neutral gas and cosmic dust. Encountering Jupiter in 1992, Ulysses utilized the enormous planet's gravitational pull to propel itself out of elliptic orbit into direct solar orbit. For the next two hundred and thirty-five days, Ulysses hovered between 70 and 80 degrees solar latitude, conducting its priceless research and relaying information back to Earth. Image Size: 14.5 x 12.5 in. Overall Size: 20 x 18 in. Unframed. (B13197)

Jack Fellows (Washington, B. 1941) "F-111 Aardvark" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 32c F-111 Aardvark stamp issued July 19, 1997. Perhaps the most famous mission involving the F-111 Aardvark occurred on the night of April 14, 1986. Eighteen U.S. F-111s took off from a base in England and successfully attacked Libyan terrorist bases, with 2,000-pound laser-guided "smart" bombs. Image Size: 16.5 x 14 in. Overall Size: 18.5 x 16 in. Unframed. (B13332)

Peter Barrett (British, B. 1935) "Morgan 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 Morgan Horse stamp issued September 25, 1985. Unlike most American horses which have developed from the crossing of breeds, the Morgan Horse is descended from a single sire of incredible strength and merit. This horse was originally named Figure, but is perhaps better known as Justin Morgan -- the name of his second owner who received the horse as payment for a debt around 1795. The origins of this amazing horse are obscure, and will probably never be known. Some claim that the original Morgan Horse was the offspring of a famous Thoroughbred racer and a Wildair mare. Others claim he was descendant of a Welsh Cob with a mixture of Thoroughbred blood. Whatever his origins, the truth is that he was truly one of the world's most remarkable horses. Although he was renowned for his strength and endurance, Justin Morgan's horse was relatively small, standing only a little more than 4-1/2 feet tall and weighing around eight hundred pounds. Used by his owner to pull the plough to plant crops, clear fields and pull heavy loads, this one small horse literally worked from sunrise until dusk. When not working in the fields, Justin Morgan matched his incredible horse in weight-pulling contests so demanding that it was a miracle a horse his size could move such heavy loads. In addition, Justin Morgan's horse was raced under saddle and harness -- never to be beaten. The qualities of this one amazing horse were carried on in his offspring which resulted in the establishment of a new breed. Image Size: 12 x 10 in. Overall Size: 18.5 x 16.25 in. Unframed. (B09724)

Peter Barrett (British, B. 1935) "Cocker Spaniel and Chesapeake Bay Retriever" Signed lower right. Original Watercolor 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. 20c Cocker Spaniel and Chesapeake Bay Retriever stamp issued September 7, 1984. America's Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a romantic origin which began in 1807 when an English sailing vessel wrecked in a storm off the coast of Maryland. A nearby American ship rescued the English captain and his crew from the sinking ship ... along with two small puppies -- a liver colored male and a black female. As a gift from the English sailors for the gracious hospitality extended to them by their rescuers, the two puppies were given to the Americans. Later, the two dogs produced a fearless breed of retrievers -- perfect for duck shooting along the Chesapeake Bay. Today the dogs are known as Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. These beautiful animals have curly coats of reddish-brown hair and are known for their passion for water. Strong and active, these good natured dogs make excellent pets. The Cocker Spaniel is another dog which is at home near the water. These affectionate little dogs are excellent swimmers and have a proud hunting heritage. The Cocker Spaniels have developed large appealing eyes and a soft feathery coat which have made this beautiful dog almost irresistible. Whether accompanying the hunter or romping with children, the cheerful Cocker Spaniel is indeed one of America's most beloved dogs. Image Size: 8 x 11.25 in. Overall Size: 15 x 17.25 in. Unframed. (B99007)

Erik Nitsche (Swiss, 1908 - 1998) ""Man Without Heart" Sculpture" 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 published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Netherlands Europa 1987 Modern Art - Architecture stamp issued May 12, 1987. The sculpture featured in this artwork commemorates the devastation of Rotterdam during World War II. Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands and the largest port in Europe in terms of volume of goods handled. On May 14, 1940, several hours after the city had surrendered, the Germans bombed Rotterdam, devastating some 645 acres of the center of the city, destroying thousands of dwellings, retail shops, factories, office buildings, banks, hotels, theaters, churches, schools, and it is estimated that 30,000 people were killed. After the war, the city fought its way back to new vigor, rebuilding along ultramodern lines. The city's rehabilitation is expressed by the motto which Queen Juliana added to its coat of arms, "Stronger through struggle." This sculpture is entitled "Verwustete Stadt -- Mann ohne Herz," meaning "Bombed Out City -- Man without Heart." The sculpture was created by Ossip Zadkine, who was born in 1890 in Russia, and died in 1967 in France. The "Man without Heart" sculpture symbolized Rotterdam's devastation by the Nazis in World War II. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20 x 15 in. Unframed. (B10763)

John Swatsley (American, B. 1937) "The Samson Locomotive" Signed lower right. Original oil painting on Illustration Board painting. 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 37c Samson stamp issued March 10. 1983. When the railways were first being built across the Canadian frontier, some people doubted the abilities of the great steam engines to climb the steep mountainsides, and to operate in the bitter Canadian winters. Most of these fears were unfounded. The steam locomotives brought all-weather travel with unprecedented speed and luxury. The trains hauled their bulky burdens to new markets, and increased Canadian commerce. One of the most memorable steam engines in Canadian history is the Samson -- the first locomotive in Canada. This great engine was built in 1836 by the Robert Stephanson Company in England. The Samson was acquired by the first railway in the Atlantic Provinces to haul coal between the Albion Mine and the docks at Pictou .. a distance of about six miles. She was capable of pulling thirty-two cars of coal up a steep hill ... and could haul up to four hundred tons of cargo on a level track! Samson was also the first coal burning engine in Canada, and the first to run over all iron rails. This historic locomotive hauled carloads of coal from the Albion Mine along the short six mile track for more than forty years. Exhibited at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, and at the Fair of the Iron Horse in Baltimore in 1927 as a remarkable machine ... the Samson is now preserved and on display at New Glasgow, in Nova Scotia, Canada. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 19.75 x 17.5 in. Unframed. (B08282)

John Swatsley (American, B. 1937) "Ely's No. 10" Signed lower right. 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. 29c Ely's No. 10 stamp issued July 28, 1994. "I do verily believe that carriages propelled by steam will come into general use, and travel at the rate of 300 miles a day." These words were spoken by Oliver Evans, creator of the Oruktor Amphibolus, a steam dredge he designed for the Philadelphia Board of Health in 1801. Evans was scoffed at when he proposed this innovative means of transportation, and further ridiculed when he suggested the possibility of a steam-powered railroad between Philadelphia and New York. Unfortunately, Evans died before seeing his dream fulfilled. However other inventors, such as English engineer George Stephenson, continued to pursue the notion of creating a steam locomotive. In 1814, he designed the Blucher, a "traveling engine" named after the Duke of Wellington's Prussian comrade-in-arms during the Battle of Waterloo. This invention was eventually followed by more advanced engines. And on September 27, 1825, Stephenson's expertise and ambition brought about the opening of the Stockton & Darlington, the world's first public railroad. Just four years later, across the Atlantic, America's very first steam locomotives were taking shape. By 1881, the railroad industry had become a major mode of transportation in the United States. This coalburning locomotive was considered to be the fastest and most-admired of its time. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20 x 17.5 in. Unframed. (B14717)

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 painting appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 25c Steamboat Experiment stamp issued March 3, 1989. The first time a paddle wheel was used to propel a boat dates back to ancient Rome. The idea of using revolving wheels to propel a vessel through water appeared again and again through the centuries and eventually the idea of powering the wheels with steam materialized. In the early 1780's in America, an inventor named John Fitch, and an engineer, named Henry Voight, began the design and construction of a steamboat propelled by six twelve-foot vertical oars placed on either side of the craft. They tested it in the Delaware River in 1787. Although she proved extremely slow, she was still the first vessel in American waters to actually move under her own steam. By 1788, the two men had redesigned their vessel by trial and error, giving the new boat three rectangular paddles operating off of the stem 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. Various modifications to the vessel during the next two years did not bring the Experiment enough speed to compete with ground transportation -- the steamboat trip still took longer than did the journey by stagecoach. Consistently, the little steamer lost money on her voyages, until finally she was withdrawn from service altogether in the summer of 1790. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20.5 x 18 in. Unframed. (B11899)

Paul Calle (Connecticut, New York, 1928 - 2010) "50th Anniversary of the 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 United States 32c 50th Anniversary of the United Nations stamp issued June 26, 1995. On June 12, 1941, the Inter-Allied Declaration "to work together, with other free peoples, both in war and peace" was signed in London. This event proved to be the first of many steps toward the establishment of the United Nations. Two months later, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill endorsed the Atlantic Charter, a document that proposed a set of principles for international collaboration in maintaining world peace and security. Representatives of 26 nations -- all of which were at war with the Axis powers -- signaled their support of the Atlantic Charter by signing the "Declaration by United Nations" on January 1, 1942. This marked the first official use of the name that would ultimately become synonymous with world peace. Another step toward the development of the United Nations occurred on October 7, 1944, when diplomats from the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and China convened to lay the groundwork for an international peacekeeping organization. The Yalta Conference -- the historic meeting that determined the disposition of postwar Europe -- was also instrumental in the United Nations' establishment. Later, the four nations that had attended the conference became permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. On April 25, 1945, the 111-article Charter of the United Nations was drafted. It was signed on June 26, 1945, and came into force on October 24 -- a date that has since been designated as United Nations Day. Image Size: 14 x 11.75 in. Overall Size: 22 x 18 in. Unframed. (B15142)

R.G. Finney (Wyoming, B. 1941) "Cheetah" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 55c Cheetah mint stamp issued March 8, 1997. The cheetah is best known for being the fastest of all the land mammals capable of attaining speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour! However, it displays other characteristics that make it unique not only among big cats, but in the entire cat family. Most notable is the cheetah's inability to retract its claws, as it lacks the protective sheaths possessed by all other cats. It is also considered to possess certain canine traits such as a greyhound-like build, an inability to climb trees and the ease with which it can be tamed and trained. The cheetah once inhabited the savannas and semi-deserts of Africa and Asia from Morocco to India. It is believed that this big cat is probably Asian in origin since no fossil remains have been found in Africa. Sadly, it is now extinct in much of its former range. Size: 12 x 12 in. Unframed. (B15295)

Erik Nitsche (Swiss, 1908 - 1998) "Oskar Kokoschka" 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 Oskar Kokoschka stamp issued February 13, 1986. Capable of working in a broad range of media, Oskar Kokoschka was a leader of the Figurative/Expressionist school. His early landscapes and still lifes evoke a hallucinative, expressive power. His compositions were religiously symbolic rather than representative. In 1910, his friend, architect Adolf Loos, sponsored his first trip abroad. Kokoschka journeyed to Switzerland and Berlin. He painted extensively during his travels and supplied a regular "portrait of the week" for the periodical Der Strum . By the dawn of World War I, he was respected in the art circles of Germany and Austria. Drafted during the war, he was wounded on the Russian front in 1916 and was hospitalized in Dresden. He became a professor at the Academy of Arts there in 1919 and remained in Dresden until 1924. Kokoschka then began a series of journeys which lasted until 1931. He painted the people, landscapes and great cities of nearly every country in Europe and North Africa. In his landscape works, he used impressionist techniques interpreted in a highly personal and dramatically effective manner. Kokoschka continued to roam throughout Europe before emigrating to London in 1938. After the war, he settled in Villeneuve on Lake Geneva where he founded his "School for Seeing" to counteract the spread of abstract art. Kokoschka remained active well into his eighties. Image Size: 12 x 14 in. Overall Size: 15 x 20 in. Unframed. (B09934)

Erik Nitsche (Swiss, 1908 - 1998) "Karl Schmidt-Rottluff's Graphic Design Painting" Signed lower right. Original Oil 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 Germany 60pf Karl Schmidt-Rottluff stamp issued November 8, 1984. Karl Schmidt-Rottluff was a German Expressionist Painter, 1884-1976. Up until 1910 Schmidt-Rottluff's paintings are characterized by the expressive energy of "flaming" forms and thickly applied paint. In 1911 his landscapes began to display an overwhelming calm. Details are subordinated to a larger structure, and there are strong contrasts between warm and cool colors which support simplified geometric shapes. During the purge of "degenerate art" in 1937-38, 608 of his works were confiscated from public collections in Germany, and he was forbidden to paint. During World War II, Schmidt-Rottluff served in the command post office on the Russian front and created wooden sculptures and religious woodcuts. He continued to paint throughout his lengthy life. Image Size: 12 x 14 in. Overall Size: 15 x 20 in. Unframed. (B09227)

Chuck Ripper (American, B. 1929) "Scuba Diver and Shipwreck" Signed lower left. Original Gouache/Watercolor painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the 29c Diver and Ships Wheel stamp issued October 3, 1994. Although more than 20,000 ships have sunk this century alone, only a few thousand have ever been recovered. This is mainly true because the business of treasure diving is extremely expensive and requires fierce dedication and long hours of hard work. One of the first and most important steps in such a monumental undertaking is the research process. Studying a sunken ship's history and learning as much as possible about its cargo is paramount to the success of this type of endeavor. Even when the researcher locates what he believes to be a treasure-laden wreck, there is still much work to be done before donning scuba gear. Treasure hunters must hire an experienced crew, study local laws concerning salvage and be prepared to endure years of court battles if necessary to protect their claims. Once the actual excavation gets underway, it can take months or even the better part of a year to fully salvage those artifacts that have remained intact within the wreck. Unfortunately most sunken vessels, even treasure-laden ones, yield the finder far less profit than expected. However, in early 1970, professional salvor Melvin A. Fisher gleaned an estimated $6 million in valuables from the Nuestra Se?ora de Atocha, a Spanish galleon that had sunk along the Florida Keys in 1622. Good fortune struck twice for Fisher. Almost 10 years after the Atocha discovery, his divers recovered even greater bounty from its sister ship, the Santa Margarita. Image Size: 12 x 14 in. Overall Size: 15 x 17 in. Unframed. (B14831)

Chuck Ripper (American, B. 1929) "Mother and Baby Asian Elephants" Signed lower right. Original Gouache/Watercolor painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the United Nations Endangered Species Series S7 Asian Elephant stamp issued March 18, 1994. Few would disagree that elephants belong in the order proboscidea. For the Latin term proboscis is a direct descendant of the Greek word for an elephant's trunk. The elephant is steeped in history. They were well known to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who sometimes used them in battle. During the Second Punic War, for example, the famed general Hannibal of Carthage utilized elephants in an invasion force against Rome. More than a century later, a coin of the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar shows an elephant trampling a serpent, graphically portraying the success his legions enjoyed against the Gauls, who were symbolized by the unfortunate snake! Though the elephant has longstanding ties with mankind, both in war and in such peacetime activities as circuses, the Asian Elephant is today in particular danger of extinction. Unfortunately, elephants grow tusks of ivory, a substance long cherished by man. So valuable is ivory, that elephants weighing 10 tons are casually killed by poachers seeking the mere 300 pounds of ivory in their tusks. The carcass is often left to rot. Today, it is thought that fewer than 50,000 Asian Elephants still live in the wild, a number that is dangerously low and has resulted in these mammoth creatures being listed as an endangered species. Image Size: 12.5 x 14.5 in. Overall Size: 14.75 x 17.75 in. Unframed. (B14617)

Chuck Ripper (American, B. 1929) "Gorilla Sitting in Grass" Signed lower right. Original Gouache/Watercolor painting on Masonite. 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 United Nations F.s 0,80 Gorilla stamp issued March 3, 1983. Gorillas are the largest living primates. Adult males may weigh 450 pounds and stand nearly six feet tall. Surprisingly, fossil records and biochemical data indicate that Gorillas are more genetically similar to humans than they are to orangutans. Along with chimpanzees, Gorillas are considered the most intelligent land animals on earth. They can be taught to communicate hundreds of words using sign language, combining some into rudimentary two-word phrases. Despite these "human-like" attributes, Gorillas have an unwarranted reputation for incredible ferocity. Although males can be quite dangerous if threatened, for the most part these noble beasts of the African jungles are peaceful, gentle creatures. Each year thousands of tourists visit the forests of Rwanda and mingle with totally unrestrained wild Gorillas. No one has ever been banned. One day soon, however, wild Gorillas may vanish, for every year more of their range is destroyed for the sake of timber and agricultural interests. In many parts of Africa, Gorillas are killed because they eat crops. People eat Gorilla meat in Gabon, serving it in restaurants. Hunters sell Gorilla skulls and skins to tourists. And every Gorilla that reaches a zoo represents two that have died on the way. Halting these assaults on Gorillas and their habitat is the only way to ensure the survival of these regal beasts. Image Size: 14.5 x 12.25 in. Overall Size: 17.5 x 14.75 in. Unframed. (B14180)

Peter Barrett (British, B. 1935) "Morgan 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 Morgan Horse stamp issued September 25, 1985. Unlike most American horses which have developed from the crossing of breeds, the Morgan Horse is descended from a single sire of incredible strength and merit. This horse was orginally named Figure, but is better known as Justin Morgan -- the name of his second owner. The origins of this amazing horse are obscure. However, he was truly one of the world's most remakable horses. Although he was renowned for his strength and endurance, Justin Morgan's horse was relatively small, standing only a little more than 4 1/2 feet tall and weighing around eight hundred pounds. Used to pull the plough to plant crops, clear fields and pull heavy loads, this one small horse literally worked from sunrise until dusk. When not working in the fields, Justin Morgan was matched in demanding weight-pulling contests ... and was raced under saddle and harness -- never to be beaten! The qualities of this one amazing horse were carried on in his offspring establishing one of America's most popular breeds of horses. Image Size: 8.25 x 11.75 in. Overall Size: 13.5 x 16.5 in. Unframed. (B09719)

Dennis Lyall (American, B. 1946) "Great Star Flag" 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. 33c Great Star Flag Classic Collection Series stamp 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. The Great Star flag of 1818 had 20 stars arranged in the form of a five-pointed star. Image Size: 18 x 13 in. Overall Size: 19.5 x 15 in. Unframed. (B16800)

Don Balke (North Carolina, B. 1933) "Alaska Brown Bear" Signed lower right. 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. Wildlife of the 50 States 22c Brown Bear/Alaska stamp issued 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 aggressive Bears wade out among the fish and squat down so that the current boils over them, and when a fish passes by, an effortless head nod or paw swipe yields a meal. Others prefer to 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. One of the most unpredictable and dangerous animals man can encounter in the wild, the Alaska Brown Bear is, nonetheless, a stirring sight. Image Size: 13.5 x 14.5 in. Overall Size: 14 x 17 in. Unframed. (B10607)

Don Balke (North Carolina, B. 1933) "American Lobster" 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. Wildlife of the 50 States 22c American Lobster/Massachusetts stamp issued June 13, 1987. Living on the rocky, sandy bottoms, from the New England shoreline to the edge of continental shelf, the American Lobster is an elusive quarry for fishermen. Lobsters dwell alone in crevices or in burrows under rocks. They are nocturnal, foraging at night for fish, algae, eel grass, or invertebrates. Like most arthropods, American Lobsters cannot grow without shedding their hard shells. Youngsters molt several times a year, but after reaching maturity, females molt only once every other year, while males do so annually. Molting is important in their reproductive cycle as well. For, mating can only take place within a few hours after the female has shed her shell. The female carries the fertilized eggs for several months before they are ready to hatch. Newly hatched lobsters are free swimming and pass through three stages of development in about twelve days. During the fourth stage, they begin to look for a place to settle, and by the fifth stage they are ready to molt and spend the rest of their lives foraging on the ocean floor. The American Lobster is one of approximately forty species of "true lobsters" characterized by large pinching claws and a stiff fan tail. Image Size: 13.5 x 14.5 in. Overall Size: 14 x 17 in. Unframed. (B10632)

Don Balke (North Carolina, B. 1933) "Costa's Hummingbird Gathering Nectar" Signed lower right. 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 Proofcard for the U.S. 29c Costa's Hummingbird stamp issued June 15, 1992. The bright green and violet plumage of the Costa's Hummingbird is the perfect complement to a harshly beautiful landscape of red sandstone and purple sage. Found from California east to New Mexico, the Costa's Hummingbird is known for its fondness of high, dry plateaus. In the winter, the bird migrates a comparatively short distance to Arizona and southern California and into Mexico. But in the summer, the Costa's frequents the canyons and mountains of the American Southwest, as well as California's golden hills. The male is very distinctively marked, for no other hummingbird on the continent has a purple cap and throat, plus feathers that stick out like whiskers. As mating season rolls around, the male Costa's performs stunning aerial acrobatics in an attempt to woo a female. Once he has succeeded, the female will lay two tiny eggs in a nest scarcely over an inch in outside diameter. The eggs weigh as much as 20 percent of the mother's body weight, the equivalent of a 135-pound woman giving birth to a 27-pound baby. Although their parents are among the most beautiful of all birds, the young are tiny, featherless and -- homely. In about three weeks, however, they will be ready to leave the nest and are as stunningly beautiful as their parents. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 21 x 18.25 in. Unframed. (B13644)

Erik Nitsche (Swiss, 1908 - 1998) "Japan Postal Relics" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This piece was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue Proof Card for the U.S. 22c Stamp Collecting stamp issued January 23, 1986. Today, it is a simple matter to send a letter abroad. However, in the mid 1800s it was somewhat more troublesome. In countries like Germany, there were numerous sovereign states and many different routes through rough, mountainous terrain. One of the most romantic and interesting postal histories in the world belongs to Australia. Isolated from other nations by thousands of miles of ocean, Australia's early postal system relied on whaling ships to bring mail from the rest of the world. During the mid-1800s these great sailing ships were replaced with the faster and more powerful steamships. One of the most interesting areas of postal history concerns the different signs and symbols used through the ages to urge the postal carrier to hurry the mail to its destination. Sweden had the interesting tradition of attaching two small feathers to the letter by a wax seal. This indicated the need for speed in transit. If black and white feathers were combined, this implied "Very urgent. Travel night and day!" Canada's Post Office was established under the British crown in 1763. However, it was not until 1851 that Canada issued her first postage stamp. This beautiful red stamp depicted a beaver - the world's first pictorial stamp. The beaver was an appropriate subject, for Canada's early prosperity was founded on the profitability of beaver pelts. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20 x 15 in. Unframed. (B10032)

Erik Nitsche (Swiss, 1908 - 1998) "Brazil Postal Relics" 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 of Issue Proof Card for the U.S. 22c Stamp Collecting stamp issued January 23, 1986. One of the most interesting, and little-known, facts in postal history is that Brazil became the second nation in the world to issue adhesive postage stamps -- just three years after Great Britain's famed Penny Black. Brazil's new postal reforms were the result of the work of J.D. Sturz, a Brazilian consul who was serving in Europe in the early 1840s. While in Europe, Sturz was able to see first-hand the workings of Britain's new postal system. Convinced of its efficiency, he returned to his homeland in 1842 and proposed that Brazil institute postal reforms similar to those of Great Britain's. While Great Britain's first stamp featured a portrait of Queen Victoria, the first stamps of Brazil departed from the precedent and featured the numerals of the stamp's face value. The stamp featured an intricately scrolled background to foil would-be forgers and a large numeral sixty. The figures of the face values had no other inscriptions, and their curious appearance led to their nickname the "Bull's Eyes." Today, Brazil's historic "Bull's Eyes" postage stamps are among the most sought-after and desirable of all the world's postage stamps. This artwork features a reproduction of Brazil's first postage stamp. In addition, the modern insignia of the Brazilian Post Office, a postal courier and mailbag carrier, and a 1906 mailbox are also featured. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20 x 15 in. Unframed. (B10033)

Gordon Beningfield (British, 1936 - 1998) "Indian Paintbrush" 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 of the U.S. 29c Indian Paintbrush stamp issued July 24, 1992. lthough Castilleja coccinea is the most common eastern species, most Castilleja species are often found in the western two-thirds of the continent as indicated on the map. Easy to recognize with their bright, brush-like forms, it is often difficult to identify them to the species level. Indian paintbrushes bloom from spring to summer in dry to moist soils of open sunny areas including grasslands, mountain meadows and forest clearings. Although the most common color is red, paintbrushes exhibit a rainbow of other hues, including pink, purple, yellow and orange. The colorful "petals" are actually pigmented leaves or bracts that help attract pollinators, such as bees and hummingbirds, to the nectar of the small, greenish-yellow flowers at the base of each bract. A member of the snapdragon family -- Scrophulariaceae -- Indian paintbrush grows best when it attaches itself to the roots of a host plant. Image Size: 7 x 6 in. Overall Size: 11.25 x 10.25 in. Unframed. (B12848)

Gordon Beningfield (British, 1936 - 1998) "Bluets" 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. 29c Bluets stamp issued July 24, 1992. One of the heralds of spring, delicate bluets form dense tufts that spread abundantly along roadsides and in meadows. The pale blue flowers look white from afar. Because the flowers were thought to resemble the white bonnets worn by Quaker women, another common name is Quaker ladies. Flowering from April to June, bluets occasionally are mistaken for forget-me-nots. The flower parts of bluets, however, occur in multiples of four while those of the forget-me-nots are in fives. Butterflies -- such as the painted lady and clouded sulphur -- and bees pollinate the flowers. Another common visitor is the beefly. Bluets are members of the madder family, Rubiaceae, to which coffee also belongs. The genus name, Houstonia, honors William Houston, an 18th century Scottish physician and botanist who collected plants in Mexico and the Caribbean. Image Size: 7 x 6 in. Overall Size: 11.25 x 10.25 in. Unframed. (B13109)

Mel Crawford (Canadian, B. 1925) "Arrival in Sleigh at Church" 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 Canada 15c Merry Christmas Joyeux Noel 1980 stamp issued October 22, 1980. In December, when skies hang low and the winter-locked world lies waiting for a break from despair, then falls the first snow. Softly, silently it falls, creating a sparkling wonderland where outlines were bleak and colors dull. As the snow veils the smut of a city or draws its soft blanket over country fences and frozen lakes, the landscape's defects all disappear. Then, the trees seem to burst into new bloom as the clean, white snow softly descends over their branches. Winter berries soon stand out in bright red against the white, and sundowns glow in rose hues with shadows of purple-blue. When the sun shines, a million diamonds seem to dance across the hills. The first snow -- like no other -- comes as welcome as the first of spring, all crisp and full of sparkle. As the snow falls, it lifts spirits high. Children eagerly watch from their windows as the crystal blanket thickens, dreaming of snowball fights, sleigh rides, and the rapture of sledding down snow-covered hills. Indeed, all the world regards winter's first snow with pure delight. For this reason snow scenes have long been favorite Christmas card fare. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 17.25 x 15 in. Unframed. (B06719)

Erik Nitsche (Swiss, 1908 - 1998) "Fort York/Ontario" 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 Canada 34c Fort York stamp issued June 28, 1985. Canada's historic Fort York, located near present day Toronto, was the site of several important battles during the War of 1812. On the morning of April 27, 1813, the soldiers at the garrison and the townspeople of York were startled to see the sails of fifteen American warships in the harbor. The British forces at the fort were outnumbered three to one by the Americans and a furious battle was fought. During one part of the action, the powder magazine at the fort accidentally exploded, killing many men on both sides. Indeed, the large numberof British and American casualties made this one of the bloodiest battles in the War of 1812. Despite stiff resistance, the Americans were able to capture the fort and town, thereby gaining many badly needed supplies. The American forces returned to Fort York several months later and landed unopposed. However, the British soldiers had anticipated the Americans' return and hid many military supplies before the American forces could seize them. After the second American raid, Fort York was rebuilt and fortified to withstand direct attacks. However, no more battles were fought during the War of 1812. During the American Civil War, however, a heavy seven-gun battery was placed along the south wall of the fort to ward against fighting along the U.S./Canada border. Today, Fort York is maintained as a living museum and recreates for visitors the sights and sounds of a nineteenth century British garrison. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20 x 15 in. Unframed. (B09685)

Howard Koslow (1924 - 2016) "Marshall Islands" 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 Cover for the Republic of the Marshall Islands 25c Compact of Free Assocation stamp issued September 28, 1990. Change has been a way of life for the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Over the centuries, the people of the islands have adapted to the subtle changes in nature, but life in the last one hundred years has been much more dramatic. In the final years of the 19th century, the islands were claimed by Germany and governed by that faraway country for over two decades. By the end of the First World War a new government had laid claim to the islands: Japan. Held for three decades by Japan, the islands were liberated by U. S. forces in World War II, and were designated a United Nations Trust Territory in 1947. Under this umbrella, the Marshall Islands moved to a much-desired independence. Today, after more than one hundred years of dealing with one distant government after another, the people of the Marshall Islands are in control of their own destiny. The first of many important steps was taken in that direction in 1979, when the Marshallese adopted a constitution. In 1982, the people signed an agreement, called the Compact of Free Association, which envisioned complete self-government. The compact came into force when the Trust Territory was dissolved in 1986 and the Marshall Islands became independent. The people of the islands elected a thirty-three member parliament, called the Nitijela, to oversee matters on the islands. The parliament, in turn, elected a president. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20.5 x 17.75 in. Unframed. (B12429)

Ivan Kozlov (Russian, B. 1937) "Common Goldeneye" 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 a First Day Cover for a Russia Duck stamp issued July 1, 1990. Like the Mallard, the hardy Common Goldeneye winters as far north as possible, usually on coastal bays, large lakes, impoundments and rivers. In fact, where waters stay icefree, many Goldeneyes never migrate at all. Where natural hot springs and geysers are present, for example, flocks stay year round, wintering on stretches of river kept open by warm water. When forced to migrate by extremely cold temperatures, the Goldeneye begins its journey in late fall, flying in small, fast flocks that are often identified by the whistling of rapidly beating wings. This distinctive sound gives rise to the bird's widespread nickname, the Whistler. In the spring, these ducks arrive early at their breeding grounds, appearing with the first openings in the ice of preferred lakes and streams. While searching for nest sites, Goldeneyes scatter across vast evergreen forests hunting for the appropriate spots to settle in for the season. A cavity in a rotten hardwood tree by a marsh usually serves as a nest. There, the hen wraps eight to twelve greenish eggs in a blanket of soft, insulating down. This lovely hen has a charcoal body, crisp white breast, belly and wing markings and a rich brown head. Even more colorful, the predominantly black and white Goldeneye drake sports bold, striking markings -- a glistening dark green head and a striking white eye patch compliment his white chest, belly and wing patches. Image Size: 6.75 x 5.75 in. Overall Size: 9.25 x 7.75 in. Unframed. (B12460)