We found 165598 price guide item(s) matching your search

Shannon Stirnweis (B. 1931) "Japanese Capture Guam" 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 Republic of the Marshall Islands 29c Japanese Capture Guam 1941 stamp issued December 10, 1991. The shock of the attack on Pearl Harbor had barely begun to sink in when Americans learned of more Japanese attacks throughout the Pacific. Less than 24 hours after the tragedy at Pearl Harbor, Japanese troops attacked Guam in the southwestern Pacific. Stationed on Guam were some 400 U.S. Marines, plus a force of approximately 300 native troops. They were no match for the invasion force of 5,000 Japanese. After fierce aerial attack, a special landing force of Japanese troops stormed Dungas Beach and moved inland. Although the defenders fought gallantly, they were unable to stop the flow of the enemy onto the island. Finally, less the three days after the attack began, the island of Guam fell officially into the hands of Imperial Japan. Image Size: 15.75 x 24 in. Overall Size: 19.75 x 28 in. Unframed. (B13251)

Dean Ellis (New York, 1920 - 2009) "Roman Goddess Diana" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media 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 50c The Moon stamp issued July 20, 1994. The Moon influences the Earth primarily through its gravitational pull, creating tidal bulges on opposite sides of the Earth in line with the Moon. When the Sun and the Moon are in line, the result is a full Moon, and maximum or spring tides result. The early observers saw the Moon as a divine object and called it the shepherd of the stars. They believed the Moon's powers could actually affect the mind, giving us words like lunatic, lunacy and moonstruck. The U.S.Lunar Space Program has allowed us to learn much more about the chemistry and geology of the Moon during the past few years than in the several centuries before. This beautiful painting shows the Moon's astrological sign symbolizing imagination and love for the arts, and features Diana, Roman goddess of the Moon and of birth, guardian of the forests and wild animals. Image Size: 12.5 x 16.25 in. Overall Size: 15.75 x 19 in. Unframed. (B14582)

George Sottung (American, 1927 - 1999) "Jazz Music Legends Band" 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 the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 29c Jazz Music stamp issued September 17, 1994. Derived from the term "blue note," a flatted third or seventh note in a chord where a major interval would be expected, the Blues is an offshoot of pre-Civil War ballads of work and sorrow. Eventually the music acquired a recognizable pattern characterized by a slow tempo and mournful melody. Among those credited with perpetuating the Blues are Ma Rainey, Billy Holiday, Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters. Jazz, another form of music that originated in America, was first played in the United States during the late 1800s. One of its most distinctive attributes is the use of improvisation, allowing singers and musicians to spontaneously perform their own versions of small segments of a Jazz song. Recording artists Mildred Bailey and Bessie Smith are just two of the pioneers who made great strides in the development of this truly American form of music. Image Size: 15 x 13.25 in. Overall Size: 22 x 19.25 in. Unframed. (B14803)

George Sottung (American, 1927 - 1999) "Louis Armstrong" 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 the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 32c Louis Armstrong stamp issued September 1, 1995. If Jack Armstrong was the "all-American boy," Louis Armstrong certainly deserves the title "all-American musician." The jazz trumpeter and singer nicknamed "Satchmo" (a shortened form of "Satchel Mouth") was born in New Orleans in 1900 or 1901 and moved to Chicago in 1922. It wasn't long before Armstrong had set the conventional blues and jazz establishment on its proverbial ear. Forsaking the traditional New Orleans sound that saw trumpet, clarinet and trombone playing second fiddle to the needs of a larger ensemble, Armstrong's innovative style stressed individual virtuosity and became the rage among blues aficionados. But Armstrong's talents didn't end with his personal mastery of the trumpet. He's credited with creating "scat" vocals, where the human voice is used in place of instruments to improvise melody without uttering actual words. "Satchmo" even sang tunes with real words like Hello Dolly!, which in 1964 displaced the Beatles from the top spot on the list of best-selling recordings. Armstrong also appeared in other Hollywood movies including Pennies from Heaven, The Glenn Miller Story and High Society. In his later years, popular around the world, Armstrong became an unofficial ambassador for the U.S. State Department, performing in various Eastern Bloc nations and in Africa to the delight of millions. Image Size: 14.25 x 12.25 in. Overall Size: 21.25 x 19 in. Unframed. (B15147)

Gherman Alexeyvich Komlev (Russian, 1933 - 2000) "Mississippi River Bridge" Likely Eads Bridge (St. Louis). Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Canvas laid on 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 2c Mississippi River Bridge stamp issued June 18, 1998. Famous author Mark Twain fondly reminisced about his experiences as a riverboat captain on the mighty Mississippi in Life on the Mississippi, "...the shining river, winding here and there and yonder, its sweep interrupted at intervals by clusters of wooded islands threaded by silver channels; and you have glimpses of distant villages, asleep upon capes; and of stealthy rafts slipping along in the shade of the forest walls; and of white steamers vanishing around remote points." Twain's beloved waterway meanders past many towns and cities, of which the largest is St. Louis. In the early 19th century, St. Louis served as the seat of government for the Territory of Louisiana and the Territory of Missouri. A crossroads of westward expansion and outfitting point for parties traveling the Santa Fe, California and Oregon Trails, the city became known as America's Gateway to the West. On August 20, 1867, engineer James Eads began constructing a triple-arch steel bridge across the Mississippi at St. Louis. On July 4, 1874, Eads Bridge officially opened amidst great fanfare and celebration. It was the world's largest bridge -- over 1,500 feet long! Eads' achievement was recognized around the world and he became the first American engineer to be awarded the Albert Medal of the Royal Society of Arts in London. Even more important, his magnificent creation confirmed St. Louis' sobriquet by providing a reliable and economical means of transporting goods across the unpredictable waters of the Mississippi. Image Size: 10 x 20.5 in. Overall Size: 12.5 x 22.75 in. Unframed. (B16012)

Mort (Addison Mortimer) Walker (Kansas, New York, Missouri, Connecticut, 1923 - 2018) "Beetle Bailey Comic" Original watercolor painting on Paper. Signed lower left. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood Collectors Panel for the U.S. Classic Comics stamp set issued October 1, 1995. Egad, Sir! Do you remember Popeye, Li'l Abner and Rube Goldberg? Humph! If perchance you grew up with the "comics" We recommend this complete 1995 collection of 20 America's Classic Comics stamps, in post office-fresh mint condition. They are presented on two exclusively-designed Collectors Panels illustrated by Mort Walker, creator of Beetle. Absolutely sparkling with humor, these Stamps and Panels will properly invoke memories of Sunday mornings at the kitchen table or, ahem, on the living room rug immersed in the "funny papers." A word to the wise is sufficient: these colorful Panels may cause nostalgia ... but at a very reasonable price, indeed! Image Size: 10.5 x 13 in. Overall Size: 14.75 x 11.5 in. Unframed. (B15221)

Jack Fellows (Washington, B. 1941) "AV-8B Harrier II" 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 Republic of the Marshall Islands 33c AV-8B Harrier II stamp issued June 1, 1999. The unique ability of McDonnell Douglas's AV-8B Harrier II to be launched either from carriers or from make-shift wartime runways has made it one of the United States Marine Corps' most valuable weapons and virtually guaranteed its place in future warfare. The Harrier II has tremendous range as well -- 2,000 miles without ordnance and nearly 550 miles with a full load of bombs. Image Size: 16.25 x 14 in. Overall Size: 18.75 x 16 in. Unframed. (B13355)

Mark Schuler (American, B. 1951) "First Space Station Crew 1971" 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 Republic of the Marshall Islands 45c First Space Station Crew stamp issued November 24, 1989. On 23 April 1971, the Soviets had placed Soyuz 10 into orbit. Following an early morning launch, Soyuz began its rendezvous maneuvers and docked with Salyut I on the afternoon of the 24th. The final docking took place in two stages. The automatic systems brought the manned craft within 180 meters of the target vehicle, and then spacecraft commander Vladimir Alexandrovish Shatalov took over. After ninety minutes, he guided the Soyuz to a successful docking. The two vehicles remained joined for five hours and thirty minutes while a series of experiments were conducted with the flight systems of both Soyuz and Salyut. Much to the surprise of most observers, there was no attempt to transfer either Alexei Stanislavovich Yeliseyev or Nikolai Nikolayevich Rukavishnikov into the space station. After separation from Salyut, the crew of Soyuz 10 conducted circular maneuvers around the station, taking photographs and transmitting live television pictures of it to the ground. Image Size: 12 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20 x 20 in. Unframed. (B12219)

Mark Schuler (American, B. 1951) "First American Satellite 1958" Signed lower left. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This artwork was originally published on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 45c First American Satellite stamp issued November 24, 1989. By the early 1950s, rockets were widely employed in studying the upper atmosphere. Scientists realized, however, that artificial satellites could perform the same duties much more efficiently. On July 29, 1955, President Eisenhower announced that the United States planned to launch "small unmanned earth-circling satellites." On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union became the world's first nation to successfully launch an artificial satellite --Sputnik 1. On January 31, 1958, the U.S. launched Explorer 1, the first American space satellite. Explorer 1 discovered Earth was surrounded by ionized particles of energy. On March 17, 1958, the U.S. orbited Vanguard I, which demonstrated that Earth is almost imperceptibly pear-shaped with a slight bulge in the Southern Hemisphere. On October 1, 1958, the U.S. established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to manage the country's fledgling space program. On February 17, 1959, NASA launched Vanguard II, which was designed to provide information about Earth's cloud cover. Vanguard III followed several months later and was used to map Earth's magnetic field. The birth of the Space Age provided mankind with new insights into the mysterious universe and our place in it. Image Size: 12 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20 x 20 in. Unframed. (B12232)

Steve Ferguson (American, B. 1946) "F-117 Nighthawk" 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 Republic of the Marshall Islands 32c F-117 Nighthawk stamp issued November 10, 1995. The F-117 Nighthawk, America's "Stealth" fighter, operated with amazing success at night during Desert Storm. The Nighthawk had been introduced less than a year earlier. Image Size: 16.5 x 14 in. Overall Size: 20 x 15 in. Unframed. (B13883)

Steve Ferguson (American, B. 1946) "North American B-25B Mitchell Airplane" 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 Commemorative Cover for the U.S. 29c Flag stamp issued August 19, 1994. That the B-25 Mitchell bomber was so effective should come as no surprise. For nearly 10,000 of these medium bombers were produced, making it the most common -- and most successful -- aircraft of its type during World War II. In fact, it was one of these dependable airplanes that carried Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle over Tokyo for a surprise attack in April 1942. Though not designed to be launched from aircraft carriers, this plane and 15 others took off from the USS Hornet and flew 650 miles to bomb the Japanese capital. Never suspecting they could be attacked at home -- in fact, they had been told it was impossible -- the Japanese people were shocked by the bold American raid. However, it would be more than two years before American bombers again ventured over the land of the rising sun. Image Size: 16.5 x 14 in. Overall Size: 20 x 15 in. Unframed. (B13203)

Brian Sanders (British, B. 1937) "Winston Churchill, Writer and Academic 1898-1960" Original Oil painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was published on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 60c Winston Churchill Writer and Academic 1898-1960 stamp issued June 16, 2000. A prolific author, Winston Churchill wrote fascinating narratives about his military exploits, as well as several autobiographies. His first book, The Story of the Malakand Field Force (1898), relates his experience in the Malakand expedition in Britain's war with India. Churchill's The River War (1899) covered events in the Battle of Omdurman, while The World Crisis (1923-29) was devoted to World War I. In the years prior to World War II, Churchill wrote an eloquent biography, My Early Life (1930), and Marlborough, His Life and Times (1933-38), a study of his ancestor. His postwar writings include an impressive six-volume work, The Second World War (1948-53) and A History of the English-Speaking Peoples (1956-58). A sought-after lecturer, Churchill felt that his political success was owed to his speaking ability and his speeches were owed to his writing ability. Image Size: 9.5 x 13.75 in. Overall Size: 14.5 x 18.5 in. Unframed. (B16826)

Brian Sanders (British, B. 1937) "Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty 1939-1940" Original Oil painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was published on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 60c Winston Churchill First Lord of the Admiralty 1939-1940 stamp issued June 16, 2000. When Britain entered World War II on September 3, 1939, Winston Churchill was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty, a post he had also held prior to World War I. His expertise in naval strategy resulted in one of the British fleet's first successful engagements with the German navy. Germany's pocket battleship, Admiral Graf Spee, had terrorized British ships in the South Atlantic since September 1939. The Admiralty believed that the German raider would move toward the River Plate. There HMS Exeter, HMNZS Achilles and HMS Ajax had set a trap for the Graf Spee. On December 13, 1939, the British navy engaged the Graf Spee, badly damaging it. After being refused sanctuary by neutral Uruguay, the Graf Spee was forced to retreat to Montevideo, where it was eventually scuttled. Churchill's masterful leadership as First Lord of the Admiralty greatly encouraged the nation during the early months of the war. Image Size: 9.5 x 13.75 in. Overall Size: 14.5 x 18.5 in. Unframed. (B16827)

Michael Garland (American, B. 1952) "Babe Ruth" 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 Republic of the Marshall Islands 32c George Herman Ruth "The Babe" stamp issued August 16, 1998. Born February 6, 1896, in Baltimore, Maryland, George Herman Ruth learned to play baseball while living at St. Mary's Industrial School. He became the school's star catcher and pitcher while also playing for local amateur and semi-pro teams. In 1914, Ruth began his professional career with the Baltimore minor-league team. Later than season, he was sold to the Boston Red Sox of the American League. An excellent pitcher, Ruth set a record in both the 1916 and 1918 World Series, pitching 29 and 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings. Although he was the best left-handed pitcher in the American League, he was moved to the outfield because of his power hitting. Between 1920 and 1934, Ruth played for the New York Yankees, breaking several major-league home-run records. In 1936, the Sultan of Swat was one of the first five players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Image Size: 11.25 x 14.5 in. Overall Size: 14.25 x 17.5 in. Unframed. (B16016)

Paul Calle (1928 - 2010) and Chris Calle (B. 1961) "1980s - Space Exploration Makes Headlines" Signed lower right. Mixed Media 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 The 20th Century Series 60c Space Exploration Makes Headlines stamp issued January 15, 2000. During the 1980s, space exploration continued to make important contributions to mankind's knowledge of the universe. With the development of NASA's space shuttle program, the high cost of space flights was dramatically reduced. Designed to transport communications satellites and probes for deployment in space, the space shuttle can be reused as many as 100 times. NASA's first space shuttle -- Columbia -- launched on April 12, 1981, marking the first time that solid fuel rockets were used for a U.S.-manned launch. In 1986, the Soviets launched the MIR space station, designed to serve as the core of a permanent manned orbiting facility. With the tragic explosion of the U.S. Space Shuttle Challenger and subsequent loss of life on January 28, 1986, however, America's space shuttle flights were postponed indefinitely while NASA redesigned the shuttle for safety. Image Size: 9.25 x 13.75 in. Overall Size: 14 x 22.25 in. Unframed. (B16675 / B16676)

Jack Fellows (B. 1941) "PV-1 Ventura" Signed lower right. Original oil on Masonite 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 32c PV-1 Ventura stamp issued August 28, 1998. As a land-based medium patrol bomber, the PV-1 Ventura rendered valuable service during World War II. Based at naval air stations in coastal areas, Venturas located, attacked and destroyed six German U-boats prowling the eastern Atlantic. Image Size: 16.5 x 14 in. Overall Size: 18.5 x 16 in. Unframed. (B13749)

Jack Fellows (Washington, B. 1941) "F9F Cougar" Signed lower right. Original oil on Masonite 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 33c F9F Cougar stamp issued June 1, 1999. Beginning in 1955, crowds were awed and amazed by the aerial acrobatics of the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels performing in Grumman's F9F Cougars. Rugged and reliable, Cougars were also the Navy's first swept-wing fighters to serve on aircraft carriers. Image Size: 16.5 x 14 in. Overall Size: 18.5 x 16 in. Unframed. (B14106)

Jack Fellows (B. 1941) "Northrop P-61B Black Widow" Signed lower right. Original oil on Masonite 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 33c P-61B Black Widow stamp issued February 10, 2000. At the onset of World War II, American air units were poorly equipped for night fighting. Using radar technology borrowed from the British and developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Northrop Company built a fighter that could function in total darkness -- the P-61B Black Widow. By mid-1944, the Black Widow had become the Army Air Force's standard night fighter. Image Size: 16.5 x 14 in. Overall Size: 18.5 x 16 in. Unframed. (B14294)

Jim Butcher (American, B. 1944) "Probes of the Planets/Space Achievements" 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 U.S. Space Achievements 18c Probes of the Planets stamp issued May 21, 1981. Pioneer 10 and 11 rendezvoused with the stars in 1973 and 1974. After a 620-million-mile flight, the Pioneers were within a celestial eyelash of Jupiter. Interest in the possibility of life on this planet has heightened due to space probes that were begun by the Pioneer spacecraft. Pioneer 10 could not see evidence of life from its closest distance of eighty-two thousand miles above the cloud tops, nor was it designed to detect life. Neither could Pioneer 11, though it passed within twenty-seven thousand miles. But as scientists analyze the data transmitted by these spacecraft about atmosphere, temperatures, gravity, radiation and magnetic fields, they are putting together new models of Jupiter that have implications about the possibilities of life. Pioneer 10 is now in headlong flight toward the red star Aldebaran, which it should reach in 1,700,000 years. In 1987 it will cross the orbit of Pluto. Years later it will flash by the last of the comets, becoming the first known man-made object to leave the solar system. Pioneer 11, meanwhile, has conducted the first spacecraft observations of Saturn. The Pioneers have only begun the exploration of Jupiter and the outer solar system. More sophisticated observations are being produced from the Mariner Jupiter-Saturn missions. No man knows what further searches will reveal. New light is yet to be shed on these mysteries of the universe. Image Size: 18 x 18 in. Overall Size: 22 x 22 in. Unframed. (B06942)

Vladimir Beilin (Russian, 20th C.) "USSR/US Cosmonauts/Astronauts Exploring" Original Watercolor painting. 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 Russia Space Exploration stamp issued May 29, 1992. Even when vast political differences separated the United States and Soviet Union, scientists from both nations' space programs were working together on a cooperative basis. Their first great success was the unprecedented Soyuz-Apollo joint mission in 1975, which saw three astronauts and two cosmonauts exchange handshakes and gifts -- and even share a meal of borscht -- in their docked spaceships. But during the next 16 years, marked by events in Afghanistan and the Middle East, that first small tear in the iron curtain seemed to have been sewn closed forever. Today, however, as a result of momentous changes in the former USSR, hopes for mutual exploration of space have been reborn in a planned joint mission to Mars. The design of this First Day of Issue Postcard depicts that hoped-for 21st century mission of exploration, showing an American and Russian exploring in friendship the ruddy planet named for the ancient Roman god of war. Image Size: 8.5 x 12 in. Overall Size: 10.25 x 15 in. Unframed. (B13801)

Vladimir Beilin (Russian, 20th C.) "Mir Space Station in Orbit" Original Watercolor on Paper. 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 Russia Mir Space Station stamp issued May 29, 1992. Its name means "peace." And if used in a proposed joint U.S.-Russia mission to Mars, the Mir space station might truly live up to its name. Launched in 1986, Mir is the core of a permanent orbiting complex, which includes six docking ports designed to accept expansion modules for living quarters and research labs. Up to six people can occupy Mir for long periods of time . . . perhaps even the three years required for a trip to the Red Planet. But the logistics of that trip are staggering. Experts estimate that just three men would need four-and-a-half tons of food, 10 tons of oxygen and a full 17 tons of water. Other obstacles are formidable as well. During extended space missions, men can suffer weight loss, calcium depletion, even psychological problems. Still efforts continue to prolong the time humans can safely remain in space. And, if they're successful, Americans and Russians may, together in friendship, explore the planet named for the ancient Roman god of war. Image Size: 8.5 x 12 in. Overall Size: 10.25 x 15.25 in. Unframed. (B13799)

Bryan Kneale (British, B. 1930) "Dinosaurs - Stegosaurus" Original Colored Pencil 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 Great Britain Owen's Dinosauria 1841 26p Stegosaurus stamp issued August 20, 1991. The late Jurassic Period produced one of the dinosaur era's most unusual creatures -- the Stegosaurus. It developed as a biped, but through the eons it reverted to a quadruped, thus accounting for its high haunches and short forelegs. Measuring approximately twenty feet in length, the Stegosaurus was armored -- with two offset rows of large, triangular, horn-covered bony plates along its back and two pairs of long, pointed bony spikes at the end of its tail. This battle-ready, ponderous body completely dwarfed the creature's comically-small head and suggested a pugnacious nature. But the Stegosaurus was a peaceably-natured dinosaur which grazed on soft vegetation and counted on its formidable appearnace to ward off predators. Closer examination of Stegosaurus fossils in the late 1970s revealed that the bony plates contained a network of canals which probably contained blood vessels. Many scientitsis now speculate that the vessels served as a convective heat-loss system, enabling the dinosaur to control its own body temperature. Such startling information suggests that dinosaurs were warm-blooded creatures -- not cold-blooded like modern reptiles -- and add extra dimension to the continuing quest to explain their mass extinction. Image Size: 14.25 x 16.5 in. Overall Size: 23.75 x 28.25 in. Unframed. (B13214)

Ivan Akimovich Sushchenko (Russian, B. 1930) "First Electric Automobile" Signed lower left. Original Oil painting on Masonite. 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. 4c Pan-American Invert: Electric Automobile stamp issued March 29, 2001. During the 1890s and early 1900s electric automobiles were among the most popular American cars, and were the first automotive vehicles that featured an enclosed body. Although they were slower than gasoline-powered cars (few traveled faster than 20 mph) electric cars were valued for their quiet, smooth-running motor, ease of operation and low maintenance costs. Because the battery needed to be recharged about every 50 miles, these cars were best-suited for driving short distances in towns or cities. The most common uses for electric cars in urban settings included taxi cabs and delivery vehicles. Many models were advertised as "fine carriages in all variety of styles" and built with luxurious interiors, including elegant, curved-glass windows and comfortable seats. In 1900, Review of Reviews made this statement about the electric car -- "It is the handsomest automobile, the easiest to drive, the pleasantest to ride in, but it is not adapted for general use -- say, in rural districts, nor for touring." The stamp on the First Day Cover features the center-inverted re-issue of the 4 Automobile stamp, designed from a photograph of one of the first electric cars ever produced. It was also the first appearance of an automobile on a U.S. postage stamp. Image Size: 9 x 13.75 in. Overall Size: 11.75 x 16.25 in. Unframed. (B16912)

Barry Wilkinson (British, B. 1923) "Jersey -- Rolls-Royce Phantom III" Signed lower right. Original Watercolor paiting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood Europa Cover for the Jersey 20.5P Europa stamp issued March 12, 1984. The Rolls-Royce Phantom III was a new model automobile in 1935 when it was first revealed. It was designed to give Rolls-Royce -- once again -- the right to claim that it was making the "best car in the world." In fact, except for the chassis, the separate band of coachbuilders, and the radiator design, the Phantom III was an entirely new car. No wonder that Mr. F.M. Wilcock, proprietor of the Jersey Motor Museum, ordered one of these magnificent vehicles restored for posterity. His museum -- located in lovely St. Peter's village -- was established in 1973 "to preserve historic motor vehicles of all types and photographic records relating to the island." The Phantom III chosen, was interestingly enough, the 1936 model specifically ordered by Wilcock's father. Since Rolls-Royce did not begin to produce complete cars until after the war, the firm of Freestone and Webb -- a superb coachbuilder of the day was hired to design the body. The car was given the code name "Spectre" in the Works at Derby. It had a 7668 cc all-aluminum overhead valve engine which sported dual ignition and hydraulic tappets. And, for the first time, General Motors Patents were used to fit a Rolls-Royce with independent front suspension. Wilcock later loaned the car to General Montgomery and General Carl Spaatz, as they planned the D-Day operations of 1944. But prudently, he refused to allow its use in France on D-Day itself. Image Size: 10.75 x 9 in. Overall Size: 13 x 11.5 in. Unframed. (B08869)

Stanley Paine (British, B. 1934) "Rolls Royce Silver Ghost" 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 Great Britain 29p Silver Ghost & Silver Spirit Rolls-Royce stamp issued October 13, 1982. The Rolls-Royce Company, founded in 1904, early the first name in luxurious motorcars. Cars like the Silver Ghost helped earn this reputation for its manufacturer. The Silver Ghost 40/50 model was introduced just three years after the Rolls-Royce Company opened its doors and within ten years had deservedly gained a reputation for being the finest car in the world. Of the first thirty-six Silver Ghosts made, no fewer than eight went to the United States. This excellent motorcar was hand-built to the highest possible standard of mechanical perfection and craftsmanship. Roll-Royce the running chassis and a specialist coachbuilder of the customer's choice was then engaged to create the body to the required specifications. Thus, no two Silver Ghosts were ever exactly alike. The Silver Ghost depicted in the painting is the 1908 model with Roi des Belges coachwork by Barker of London. Near the turn of the century, the Silver Ghost set standards of unsurpassed reliability and excellence both for its own day ... and for many years to come. For example, in 1907 a Silver Ghost traveled fifteen thousand miles nonstop between Glasgow and London, nearly doubling the then world reliability record. In commemoration of this historic drive, the same car -- now with a recorded mileage of over half a million miles -- once again made the journey from Glasgow to London in 1982. Indeed, the Silver Ghost was fit as a fiddle and built to last. Image Size: 6 x 7 in. Overall Size: 11.75 x 13 in. Unframed. (B07693)

John Swatsley (American, B. 1937) "The Adam Brown Locomotive" Signed lower left. 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 Canada 64 Adam Brown stamp of March 10, 1983. A faint chiming whistle drifts through the Canadian Rockies, and a thin wisp of smoke trails through towering evergreens into the clear blue sky. The chugging song of the pwoerful locomotive grows louder and clearer as she rounds the bend -- her long train of cars obediently following the curve behind her. Steadily slowing, the mighty steam engine gently pulls into the railway station with her golden brass and shining steel glittering in the sun. Colorful crowds and shouting conductors surround the marvelous Iron Horse -- the fastest, and most powerful transportation of the day. Such was the scene from the 1800s when the great steam locomotives of Canada cut through the wilderness and connected Canadian cities and towns. The engine ... Adam Brown, Number "55" depicted on this artwork, was just such a locomotive. She was built in England sometime between 1854 and 1858, and was designed by Alexander Allan, a pioneer in British locomotive design. The great steam dome was covered in golden brass. Althought the Adam Brown was built and designed in England, an American style headlight, pilot, and large smoke stack gave the steam engine a unique personality. Across the Great Western Railway of Canada, the Adam Brown linked Canadian cities and towns ... with all the elegance and glamour of the nineteenth century. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 19.75 x 17.75 in. Unframed. (B08281)

Paul Calle (American, 1928 - 2010) and Chris Calle (American, B. 1961) "Artists Proclaim Distinctness of 20th Century" Signed lower right. 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 Republic of the Marshall Islands 60? Artists Proclaim Distinctness of the 20th Century stamp issued April 15, 1997. Along with amazing advances in technology, science and medicine, the 20th century began with artists looking at the world -- and representing it -- in new ways. One of the most influential 20th century art movements was Cubism. Unlike traditional art that was clearly understood and appreciated in terms of style, subject matter and composition, a Cubist work demanded viewer participation, was much more interpretive and allowed the observer to experience the art through imagination and subjective understanding. In 1907, Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, working in France, created the first influential Cubist work, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, shown in the background of this painting. Other influential artists of the era include Henri Matisse, Georges Braque and Wassily Kandinsky. Image Size: 11.75 x 17.25 in. Overall Size: 18 x 23.25 in. Unframed. (B15633 / B15635)

Paul Calle (American, 1928 - 2010) and Chris Calle (American, B. 1961) "Submarine Warfare Extends the Reach of War" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. This painting originally appeared on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 60c Submarine Warfare Extends the Reach of War stamp issued October 15, 1997. On May 7, 1915, hostile German action made a critical impact on America's role in World War I -- the first global war. While cruising through clear waters off Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland, the German submarine U-20 spotted the British Cunard Liner S.S. Lusitania returning to Liverpool from New York. Speeding toward the liner, the German sub immediately fired several torpedoes that struck the sides of the Lusitania. Severely damaged, it sank within 20 minutes, taking 1,198 people to the bottom, including 128 U.S. citizens. Due to the public outcry that resulted from the vicious assault on the Lusitania, along with blatant German submarine attacks on unarmed American vessels that amounted to undeclared war, the U.S. ultimately joined Britain and France in the fight against Germany. Image Size: 10.75 x 14.25 in. Overall Size: 14.25 x 22.25 in. Unframed. (B15754 / B15755)

Tom McNeely (Canadian, B. 1935) "Olympics-Equestrian Events" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor painting. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This watercolor was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 15c Equestrian Events stamp issued September 28, 1979. The first Equestrian Olympic Competition was held at the Paris Games of 1900. Accomplished horsemen and their superbly-trained mounts competed in high jump, long jump and individual dressage events. As in all Olympic sports, riding has its great champions -- those who have mastered the correct combination of flexibility, dexterity and control that equestrian events demand. Successful horsemanship requires the rider to establish a genuine partnership with his mount, demonstrating a fine balance of firmness and gentleness in controlling the horse. The skills mastered by the Olympic equestrian are not soon diminished, and talented champions have returned to the games for repeat performances. The grueling three-day Olympic event begins with a dressage competition followed by an endurance test and ends with show-jumping. Equestrian competition in the Olympic Games is a dignified, regal and athletically demanding contest deservedly entitled the Sport of Kings. Image Size: 19.75 x 18 in. Overall Size: 30 x 22 in. Unframed. (B06012)

Dan Fern (British, B. 1945) "Toy Building Blocks" Original First Day Cover mixed media 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 Great Britain 27p Toys and Games stamp issued May 16, 1989. A simple child-sized block of wood. Sometimes square, sometimes rectangular. Other times shaped like an arch or pillar. Or decorated with the letters of the alphabet. No one knows when toy building blocks were first enjoyed by children. But we definitely know when they became popular with adults. In the 19th century, revolutionary educational methods such as those of Montessori and Froebel, with their precepts of learning by doing, taught that an interested child is a happy child. Formal, planned educational methods -- especially kindergarten methods -- began influencing the pattern of toys. These methods popularized building blocks and their more modern development, the constructor set, because they helped build motor skills and depth perception, while allowing children to imaginatively interact with their environment. Soon, the humble toy building block grew more complex. As adults became involved, children found themselves playing with magnificently ornamented building blocks of wood and stone from Germany, and cabin logs from the United States. On both sides of the Atlantic, clever construction games were patented. Later, so were structural metal engineering sets. The toy building block might or might not have gotten better, but it had certainly become more elaborate. Image Size: 16.75 x 20.75 in. Overall Size: 20.75 x 22.75 in. Unframed. (B12018)

Keith Bowen (UK, B. 1950) "Fallow Deer" Signed lower right. Original First Day Cover Illustration. Chalk on Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the Great Britain 18p Wintertime Fallow Deer stamp issued January 14, 1992. Fallow deer roamed throughout Central Europe prior to the last glacial period. But as the ice receded, so did the fallow deer, occurring primarily in Asia Minor until ancient times. When enterprising Phoenicians returned from ventures deep into Asia Minor, they brought back the fallow deer and introduced the animal to the Mediterranean countries. As Roman legions expanded the empire in Britain and northwestern Europe, its citizens reintroduced the fallow deer to its original habitat. Today this extremely adaptable creature is widely distributed throughout Europe and thrives on other continents as well. A handsome animal of stately form, the fallow deer requires keen senses of smell and hearing to survive in the wild, but its sense of sight is astoundingly acute. While most species of deer cannot see a motionless person, the fallow deer -- like man and cognate primates -- can. This acuity is one of its best survival tools, for it enables the animal to elude predators, whether beast or man. Fallow deer are herd animals, with the females and offspring congregating in one group and the males in another. The mating season begins in October, and the fawns appear in late May. Unlike other species of deer young, fallow deer fawns do not lose their spots, for the adults are usually spotted as well. Image Size: 18 x 21 in. Overall Size: 23.5 x 25.75 in. Unframed. (B13558)

Dean Ellis (American, 1920 - 2009) "Killer Whale" 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 published on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue Maximum Card for U.S. 25c Killer Whale stamp issued October 3, 1990. Carnivores -- on land and in the sea -- have felt the wrath of mankind throughout history. The beautiful black and white Killer Whale is no exception to this rule. The largest of the porpoise family, the Killer Whale has obtained a bad reputation as willing to eat anything in sight including, sometimes, man himself. Even the whale's name is a reflection of that claim. However, the last three decades have drawn a more accurate picture of the strikingly-marked whale. Today, Orcinus orca is found in aquariums throughout the world, where thousands are enthralled by the animal's intelligence and gentleness. Image Size: 14.5 x 20.25 in. Overall Size: 24 x 24 in. Unframed. (B12253)

Yan Bingwu (Chinese, B. 1954) & Yang Wenqing (Chinese, B. 1951) "True Katydid" Signed lower right. Original Watercolor on Silk/Rice 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 33c True Katydid Classic Collection Series stamp issued October 1, 1999. Classified as Pterophylla camellifolia, the True Katydid is one of several species of longhorned grasshoppers. This intriguing insect derives its name from the distinctive sound the male makes when rubbing its wings together to attract a female. True Katydids live in trees such as cherry, oak, maple and apple, and their slender, green bodies and thin, leaflike wing covers give them the appearance of a tree leaf. This camouflage serves as protection from predators. True Katydids have long antennae and jointed legs. Ridges located at the bases of the male's outer wings or wing covers are rubbed like a bow and fiddle, producing the unique "katydid" call. In the early fall, females lay about 100 to 150 eggs on leaves or twigs. When the young emerge in the spring, they resemble their parents, but because of their incomplete metamorphosis they are much smaller, lighter in color and lack wings. The most common species in the United States, True Katydids are found throughout the eastern regions of the Rocky Mountains. Other species that inhabit the eastern, western and southern areas of the United States have long, narrow wings and more slender bodies than the True Katydid. Many of these insects live in grass instead of trees. Image Size: 14.25 x 12.25 in. Overall Size: 14.75 x 12.25 in. Unframed. (B16509)

Ren Yu (Chinese, B. 1945) "Lycaste virginalis Orchid" Original Watercolor on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This original watercolor appeared on the Federated States of Micronesia 32c Lycaste virginalis stamp issued September 1, 1995. The national flower of Guatemala, Lycaste virginalis is a waxy, fragrant blossom that can measure up to six inches wide. Like others of the Lycaste genus, this variety is distinguished by sepals that are much larger than its petals. Image Size: 7.25 x 9.25 in. Overall Size: 9 x 10.5 in. Unframed. (B15095)

Yan Bingwu (Chinese, B. 1954) & Yang Wenqing (Chinese, B. 1951) "Velvet Ant" Signed upper right. Original Watercolor on Silk/Rice Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the 33c Velvet Ant Classic Collection Series stamp issued October 1, 1999. Belonging to the order Hymenoptera, some 3,000 species of Velvet Ant live in desert regions around the world. Most common during midsummer, Velvet Ants are usually seen during the cooler parts of the day. Their bodies and antennae are completely covered with short, velvetlike hairs that are patterned in combinations of black and bright orange, yellow, golden, white or scarlet. Scientists aren't sure why Velvet Ants are blanketed with distinctive hairs, but many think this hair may act as an insulating layer against the heat of sun and sand. Velvet Ants are actually wasps. The misleading name originated because the wingless female closely resembles an ant. Velvet Ants are parasitic on the larvae and pupae of other insects, with some preying exclusively on other hunting wasps! Heavily armored with unusually thick and hard outer coverings, female Velvet Ants are well-suited for invading bee hives and wasp nests. After copulation, the female usually enters a bee's nest. Here she feasts on honey and deposits each of her eggs into individual bee pupal cocoons. The larvae feed on the bee pupae, then emerge as adult Velvet Ants. Size: 14.25 x 12.75 in. Unframed. (B16508)

Yan Bingwu (Chinese, B. 1954) & Yang Wenqing (Chinese, B. 1951) "Periodical Cicada" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor on Silk/Rice Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This watercolor appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the 33c Periodical Cicada Classic Collection Series stamp issued October 1, 1999. The steady hum and loud shrill of the Cicada is a familiar sound in late summer. The males create this noise with platelike organs on their thorax. The females of most species are mute. These insects are characterized by a stout body, blunt head and two pairs of membranous wings. The front wings are longer than the rear wings and extend beyond the insect's abdomen. The life cycle of the Cicada begins when the female cuts slits in young twigs, where it deposits its eggs. The wingless, scaly young soon hatch, drop to the ground and burrow into the soil. As nymphs, depending on the species and the latitude, they live underground from 4 to 20 years, surviving by feeding on juices sucked from roots. When the nymphs are full-grown, they begin to climb the tree. Their skin splits down the back and adult Cicadas emerge. Newly formed adults typically live about one week -- just long enough to mate and start another brood. There are about 2,000 Cicada species distributed throughout the world's tropical and temperate regions, while 180 are found in North America. The Periodical Cicada is one of America's most abundant species and has the longest known life cycle of any insect. Size: 14.75 x 12 in. Unframed. (B16511)

Wu Jiankun (Chinese, B. 1935) "Yellow Dragon Pool in Lushan Mountains" Stamped lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Rice Paper Glued to Heavy Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the China 8fen Yellow Dragon Pool stamp issued July 20, 1981. Situated amid the serenity of soaring mountain peaks and fresh-scented pine forests is a testament to China's longstanding fascination with the mythical dragon: Yellow Dragon Pool. Known as lung, Chinese dragons, the gods of rain and water, also symbolized the power of the Emperor himself, the Son of Heaven. Dragons were often thought to serve as custodians of imperial treasures, as evidenced by the magnifient Nine-Dragon Wall guarding the royal Forbidden City in Peking. The Emperor T'ang, who ruled in 766 B.C., made a pottery figure of a dragon so that the clouds would come to his dry land. Thus, the Chinese saying "Earthen dragons cause the rain to come." The Duke of Cheh in the land of Chu apparently liked dragons since he had them painted on all his walls and trays. Tzu-kao, too, exclaimed how much he liked dragons and had them painted all over his house. When a dragon came to pay him a friendly visit, Tzu-kao was so frightened he is said to have tripped over the dragon's tail while trying to run away from it. The dragon did him no harm, however, and the following summer was unusually wet. When good emperors ruled, natural forces were thought to be in harmony with the Empire and thus, the rain fell at the right times and places. The Yellow Dragon Pool of the Lushan Mountains stands as a silent reminder of the Chinese fascination with this beautiful creature of myth and legend. Image Size: 16.25 x 13.5 in. Overall Size: 19.75 x 19 in. Unframed. (B06601)

Yan Bingwu (Chinese, B. 1954) & Yang Wenqing (Chinese, B. 1951) "Dung Beetle" Signed and stamped lower right. Original Watercolor on Silk/Rice 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 33c Dung Beetle Classic Collection Series stamp issued October 1, 1999. Dung Beetles belong to the Scarabaeidae family, one of the largest beetle families, with over 30,000 species. In ancient Egypt, these insects were believed to represent the sun and were considered sacred. Their images were depicted on Egyptian monuments, bas-reliefs, seals and jewelry. Egyptians believed a giant celestial scarab kept the Earth revolving, in the same way that the tiny ground scarab made its dung ball revolve. These scavenging insects occur in or near dung, manure and carrion. Using dung, they form a large ball much bigger than themselves, then roll it a certain distance before digging a hole beneath the ball. Once the ball drops into the hole, it's buried and serves as food for the Dung Beetle, who eats more than its weight in one day. At breeding time, a pair of male and female dung beetles roll and bury a large ball of dung. After reshaping it underground, the female lays an egg in the roll. The larva feeds on the ball and stays underground until it emerges from the pupal stage, then it makes its way to the surface. Known in the United States as tumblebugs, Dung Beetles are harmless insects that benefit man by keeping the ground fertile for planting. Size: 14.75 x 12 in. Unframed. (B16500)

Yan Bingwu (Chinese, B. 1954) & Yang Wenqing (Chinese, B. 1951) "Spotted Water Beetle" Signed and stamped lower left. Original Watercolor on Silk/Rice Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This watercolor appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the 33c Spotted Water Beetle Classic Collection Series stamp issued October 1, 1999. Aquatic beetles include whirligig beetles (family Gyrinidae), water scavenger beetles (family Hydrophilidae) and diving beetles, or true water beetles (family Dytiscidae). Native to temperate and tropical regions throughout the world, whirligig beetles spend most of their lives on the water's surface. Named for their characteristic whirligig dances, these unusual insects congregate in large numbers, rushing in zig-zag paths past one another. There are over 450 species of whirligig beetles. Abundant in warm, marshy areas of the world, water scavenger beetles are awkward swimmers, using first the middle and hind legs of one side, then those of the other. About 2,000 species of water scavenger beetles are known to exist. Widespread in quiet streams and ponds, diving beetles range up to two inches in length. Characterized by smooth, oval bodies and hairy, oarlike hind legs, diving beetles have hardened wing covers that form a cavity above the body. Air is trapped in the cavity, allowing the beetle to breathe while submersed. The ferocious-looking larvae sports huge fangs, earning it the nickname "water tiger." There are over 2,500 species of diving beetles. Image Size: 14.25 x 12.25 in. Overall Size: 14.25 x 13.75 in. Unframed. (B16501)

Yan Bingwu (Chinese, B. 1954) & Yang Wenqing (Chinese, B. 1951) "Ladybug" Signed and stamped lower right. Original Watercolor on Silk/Rice Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This watercolor appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the 33c Lady Beetle Classic Collection Series stamp issued October 1, 1999. The small, brightly-colored Lady Beetle -- or Ladybug -- is adored by gardeners for its usefulness, as well as its delightfully whimsical appearance. In the Middle Ages, these insects were held in high regard. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, they were called "beetles of Our Lady," hence the name Lady Beetle. Lady Beetles are bright red, orange or yellow, with varying patterns of black spots. They're valuable to gardeners because they destroy aphids and other damaging garden pests by laying their eggs on plants that are heavily infested with these parasites. The larvae feed on the aphids while passing through four growth stages. The entire life cycle lasts from four to seven weeks, thus several generations of Lady Beetles may be produced in one summer. These insects have been successfully used by California citrus growers to control aphids and scales that seriously damage trees. Lady Beetles are distinguished from other garden beetles by their extremely short legs. Common species are similar in appearance, but differ in the number of spots on each wing case. In winter, Lady Beetles assemble by the thousands before cold weather arrives, to hibernate under fallen branches or rocks. Size: 14.25 x 12 in. Unframed. (B16496)

Wang Xinlan (Chinese, 20th C.) "Cliffs" Signed upper center. Original Watercolor on Rice Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Republic of the Marshall Islands PHILANIPPON '01 - Dreams Across the Globe Sheetlet 80c Rooster stamp issued August 1, 2001. One of twelve paintings by young Chinese artists which was featured on a special stamp sheetlet issued to commemorate PHILANIPPON '01 in Tokyo, Japan on August 1, 2001. Simple lines, brilliant color and outstanding compositional balance are distinctive features. Many of these paintings were created in an artistic style that reflects traditional Chinese painting -- fine detail, meditative landscapes and Chinese script. A colorful rooster dominates this whimsical painting by Wang Xinlan. The rooster is one of the twelve animals symbolized by Chinese astrology. Image Diameter: 12.25 in. Overall Size: 23 x 21.75 in. Unframed. (B08225)

Zeng Xiaolian (B. 1939) "Rhododendron Fictolacteum" Original First Day watercolor. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This watercolor was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the China 20fen Rhododendron stamp issued June 25, 1991. Born in 1939 in Yunnan Province, Zeng Xiao Lian is a talented Chinese artist. He worked as a senior engineer of the Botanical Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences. In addition, Zeng Xiao Lian received artistic training in Beijing. The artist has painted a series of beautiful botanical images of flowers and birds. These accurate detailed images have been published in more than fifty books, including Flora of China, Flora and Rhododendrons Yunnan and others. Paintings by Zeng Xiao Lian participated in numerous national exhibitions in China, as well as in the United States, Canada and Australia. Indigenous to western China, the R. fictolacteum also thrives in American regions boasting mild, humid climates. This resilient plant can shoot up to 20 feet in length and produces creamy white blossoms splashed with scarlet. Horticulturists consider this plant an ideal shrub for picturesque landscaping, a tenacious, exotic beauty which remains one of the world's most popular garden plants. Image Size: 9.75 x 11.75 in. Overall Size: 12 x 13.75 in. Unframed. (B13056)

Zeng Xiaolian (B. 1939) "Rhododendron Giganteum" Original First Day Cover watercolor. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This watercolor was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the China 90fen Rhododendron stamp issued June 25, 1991. Born in 1939 in Yunnan Province, Zeng Xiao Lian is a talented Chinese artist. He worked as a senior engineer of the Botanical Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences. In addition, Zeng Xiao Lian received artistic training in Beijing. The artist has painted a series of beautiful botanical images of flowers and birds. These accurate detailed images have been published in more than fifty books, including Flora of China, Flora and Rhododendrons Yunnan and others. Paintings by Zeng Xiao Lian participated in numerous national exhibitions in China, as well as in the United States, Canada and Australia. In 1889, the young English horticulturist Ernest H. Wilson traveled to the Far East in search of new plant varieties. In just the first year of his expedition, Wilson sent some 40 new species of Rhododendron back to England. Many 20th century plant hunters followed his lead, supplying the world with thousands of new Rhododendron varieties. Some, like the R. giganteum, are still quite popular, dazzling many with their appearance. The R. giganteum is known for its size and beauty. Image Size: 9.75 x 13.25 in. Overall Size: 12 x 13.75 in. Unframed. (B13059)

Chris Calle (American, B. 1961) "Space Shuttle Transporting Mail" Signed lower left. Original First Day Cover 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 of the U.S. 45c Shuttle Airmail 20th UPU Congress Series stamp issued November 27, 1989. The United States Postal Service has used every major innovation in transportation. In the country's early days, letters could only be delivered at the speed of foot, horseback or carriage. Later, inventions like the steamboat, train, automobile and airplane obviously had a profound effect, speeding delivery throughout the country -- and the world. In the same way, it is quite possible that today's developments in space exploration will determine the way mail will be delivered in the future. The twenty-four successful space shuttle missions completed between April, 1981, and January, 1986, carried 126 astronauts and payload specialists into orbit, and launched twenty-eight satellites. Further progress on the space shuttle may make it an integral part of the mail delivery system of the future. Other developments in space exploration, like the successful establishment of industrial colonies on space stations, would necessitate a postal service for addresses far beyond the surface of the earth. A letter might be carried by hand to the post office, by mail jeep to the airport, by airplane to the launch site, and from there to its final destination via space shuttle. This possibility may seem farfetched today. But remember, in the eighteenth century the idea of sending a letter to a location halfway around the world and getting it there overnight seemed an incredible one, too. Now people do it every day. Image Size: 17 x 14.5 in. Overall Size: 23.5 x 20 in. Unframed. (B12166)

Chris Calle (American, B. 1961) "Futuristic Automobile/Astronaut" Signed lower left. Original First Day Cover 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. 45c Air-Cushion Vehicle 20th UPU Congress Series stamp issued November 27, 1989. Suppose that human space colonies someday dot the universe the way cities dot the earth today. Space travel would become so routine that an interstellar "highway" system would become necessary to handle the increased traffic -- people would have to be transported from space station to space station, from planet to planet. But that would not be the only kind of traffic generated by space colonies. "Interstellar trucklines" would be needed to supply the colonies with such necessities as food, medicine, clothing, entertainment and, of course, letters from home. Some people feel it quite likely the day will come when spaceage vehicles travel along extraterrestrial highways, delivering mail to colonists as close as the moon and as far away as the outer reaches of the universe. These enthusiasts anticipate the first space colony arising from the establishment of a lunar mining base in the first quarter of the twenty-first century. Man-made colonies that hang in space are projected for the year 2100, with technology capable of supporting populations of hundreds of thousands of people. These colonies would be serviced by hundreds of space mobiles each ferrying hundreds of passengers to and fro. This impressive transportation system would also carry goods, raw materials and even mail to extraterrestrial destinations. Perhaps even post offices among the stars would become a necessity! Image Size: 16.75 x 14.5 in. Overall Size: 23.5 x 20 in. Unframed. (B12164)

Zhenhua Wang (Chinese, 20th C.) "Red & Black Tulips" Signed and stamped upper left. Watercolor on Rice Paper. 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. 29c Tulip Booklet stamp issued January 22, 1991. "Clean as a lady, cool as glass, fresh without fragrance the tulip was," wrote poet Humbert Wolfe in 1924. His words aptly describe the crisp lines and austere elegance of this garden perennial. In 1554 O. de Busbecq, the Austrian ambassador to Turkey, spied tulips growing in a garden near Constantinople and brought a few bulbs back to Vienna. Conrad Gesner, a botanist of the era, began his own cultivation of tulips near Augsburg and soon word of this unusual flower spread throughout Europe. British and Dutch colonists brought the tulip to the Americas, and it has remained tremendously popular with serious and "week-end" gardeners alike. Lacking the heady perfume of a gardenia or tuberose and the dense, velvet blossoms of a rose, the tulip is a hardy but refined flower. Properly planted, it grows profusely but tidily. The tulip prefers moderate temperatures, well-drained soils and an occasional light shower. Like other bulb varieties, the tulip cannot withstand harsh winters. Conscientious gardeners must dig up the bulbs before the season's first hard freeze and store them in a cool, dry place. Perfect in floral arrangements, the tulip is equally impressive artfully placed in ornate bouquets or simply scattered in crystal vases. Size: 9.75 x 14 in. Unframed. (B12932)

Dennis Lyall (American, B. 1946) "Brandywine Flag" Signed lower right. Original Acrylic 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. 33c Brandywine Flag Classic Collection Series stamp issued June 14, 2000. In 1777, the British set out to capture Philadelphia. Washington believed that his best defense against the advancing British army, led by General Sir William Howe, was at Brandywine Creek, located about 25 miles southwest of the city. The American general deployed his troops at vital crossings along the creek, choosing high ground in the area of Chadd's Ford as a primary defensive position. On September 11, 1777, Howe pretended to launch an attack at Chadd's Ford, but the majority of his army crossed the Brandywine at a point farther north than Washington expected, surprising the Americans with an attack on their right flank. Howe's strategy was effective and Washington ordered his army to take the high ground around Birmingham Friends Meeting House as a last defense. Although the Americans were forced to retreat, the Continental Army remained intact. The Brandywine flag, reportedly flown during this historic battle, features a red field with a smaller flag design making up the canton. The flag-within-a-flag bears 13 red and white stripes, while the canton is a white field with a cluster of 13 red stars. This unique banner was one of the first American flags featuring a stars-and-stripes design. Image Size: 13 x 18 in. Overall Size: 15 x 19.5 in. Unframed. (B16769)

Dick Simms (American, B. 1932) "Bugatti Royale, Type 41" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This artwork was originally published on the Fleetwood Mint Stamps of the World Collectors Panel for the Grenada Luxury Automobiles stamp issue of September 7, 1984. When Ettore Bugatti was just nineteen years of age, he embarked on the design and production of his own race cars. His first cars were such a triumph that he soon was known throughout Europe for his automotive genius. After countless successes with race cars, Bugatti turned to the manufacturing of luxury cars. Without a doubt, his most elegant car design was the Bugatti Royale ... known as the car of kings. Only six of these masterpieces were ever made. Image Size: 9.75 x 12.75 in. Overall Size: 13.75 x 16.75 in. Unframed. (B08422)

Don Balke (North Carolina, B. 1933) "Siamese and Exotic Shorthair Cats" 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. 22c Siamese and Exotic Shorthair Cats stamp issued February 5, 1988. Perhaps the most talked about of all domestic cats is the mysterious Siamese. Descended from the "royal cats of Siam," these felines once inhabited the spectacular palaces of Thailand (Siam) as sacred guests. Their appeal may well be based on their affectionate natures, and though their voices are mournful and nagging, they use them to "talk" to their human friends, making these cats appear almost human themselves. Long and slim, the Siamese has a short, sleek coat and almond-shaped eyes of a sapphire hue. Because of their beauty, grace and gentle dispositions, Siamese Cats are among the most desired cats of all. The Exotic Shorthair, on the other hand, is a domestic cat, related to the Persian. Like other domestic shorthaired cats, this breed is proud and fearless, but with an easygoing, faithful nature which is so characteristic of the shorthair breeds. For show, this cat should display ears well set apart and rounded at the tip, a squared chin, rounded eyes and a broad, full-cheeked face. With a muscular body and broad chest, the Exotic Shorthair is generally an excellent show cat. Many cities sponsor such shows with national associations setting the accepted standards for judging. But show, or not, these two breeds of cat will always have the attention of American pet-owners, because of their exceptional good looks and interesting traits. Image Size: 13.75 x 12 in. Overall Size: 22.25 x 20.25 in. Unframed. (B11370)

Hodges Soileau (American, B. 1943) "Red Cloud" Signed lower 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 Cover for the U.S. 10c Red Cloud stamp issued August 15, 1987. Born in 1822 on Blue Creek in Nebraska, Red Cloud earned a reputation as a warrior, diplomat and leader. Described as a natural born gentleman, Red Cloud led an independent band in the 1860's, and was eventually accepted as leader of the Oglala Sioux -- the largest Teton Sioux tribe. Throughout this period the Oglala dominated the rich Powder River hunting grounds of Wyoming and Montana. Meanwhile, as the Civil War raged eastward, John Bozeman was sent to map a trail through Oglala territory to the Montana gold fields. Red Cloud strongly opposed the route, and, in hopes of peaceably stopping its use, he attended a council at Fort Laramie in June 1866. There he discovered a column of soldiers leaving to build three forts for protection of travelers to the gold fields. Red Cloud immediately left the council, and during the next few months gathered two thousand warriors to constantly harass the forts. On December 21, 1866, the Indians set an ambush that annihilated Captain W.J. Fetterman and his eighty men. During the following months, Red Cloud kept relentless pressure on the three forts until he succeeded in forcing their abandonment. He won both victory and peace with the treaty he signed on November 6, 1868. In his later years, Red Cloud continued to lead the Oglalas, while heading the Red Cloud Agency at Fort Robinson. On October 7, 1878, he established the Sioux Agency. Blind and ailing, Red Cloud died December 10, 1909. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 18.25 x 16.25 in. Unframed. (B11201)

Ivan Akimovich Sushchenko (Russian, B. 1930) "Harvesting in the West" Signed lower left. Original Oil 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 $2 Harvesting in the West stamp issued June 18, 1998. From the founding of the nation to the end of the 19th century, farming was the most important economic activity in the United States. The most efficient and productive in the world, American agriculture was blessed with many favorable conditions that contributed to this success. These included abundant fertile soil, moderate climate, ease of private land ownership, growth markets at home and abroad, and the constant development and refinement of farm machinery. Such technological innovations as the cotton gin, iron and steel plows, reapers, threshing machines, grain drills, corn planters, and iron harrows and cultivators transformed the West's vast prairies into the nation's granary. In the early 19th century, hundreds of thousands of farmers migrated west of the Mississippi River to the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountain and West Coast states to take advantage of the region's fertile lands. As a result, by 1860 America had over 2 million farms and agricultural products comprised 82 percent of the nation's exports. The Homestead Act, passed in May 1862, further encouraged westward growth by offering public land grants to small farmers. Within three years 15,000 homestead claims had been established. During the last three decades of the 19th century, the area of cultivated land in the U.S. more than doubled and crop production nearly tripled. The life of a farmer was never easy, however. Regular hardships included bitter cold, intense heat, floods, drought, Indian attacks and locusts. Image Size: 10 x 20.25 in. Overall Size: 12.5 x 22.75 in. Unframed. (B16008)

Jim Butcher (American, B. 1944) "Flag over Supreme Court" 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 U.S. 20c Flag Over Supreme Court Booklet stamp issued November 17, 1983. The Supreme Court of the United States is a landmark well known to the American people. However, it has known many homes, including second-floor rooms over an open-air marketplace in New York, Independence Hall in Philadelphia , and even private residences 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." At any season, 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 appropriately called the nation's conscience. In a muraled rotunda, visitors may peer at hallowed charters of freedom: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, each sealed in helium to protect it, under special glass and filters. At the first sign of danger, the documents are lowered, cases and all, into a vault twenty feet below. Image Size: 18.5 x 15.75 in. Overall Size: 24.75 x 22 in. Unframed. (B08444)

Jim Butcher (American, B. 1944) "American Flag over Washington Monument" 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 U.S. 18c Washington Monument stamp issued November 6, 1985. Towering high above Washington D.C. is one of the nation's most beloved national landmarks . . . the Washington Monument. This giant obelisk, built in honor of America's first President, stands near the Potomac River, about halfway between the nation's Capitol and the famed Lincoln Memorial. Construction of this gigantic monument was originally planned while George Washington was still alive. However, he humbly objected to it because of the cost. Nonetheless, in 1833, fund-raising committees began to collect donations for the monument. Nearly fifteen years later, a design was submitted and the cornerstone of the landmark was laid. However, the building of the monument proved to be much more costly than was originally supposed. Year after year, the project was hampered by expensive setbacks. Finally, in 1876 Congress voted to finish the National Monument at government expense. Thus, on December 6, 1884 ... some thirty-six years after construction started ... the Washington Monument was completed. Today, this beloved American monument is visited by well over one million people each year. Indeed, this towering landmark is one of the best known monuments in all the world. Image Size: 17 x 14 in. Overall Size: 25 x 22 in. Unframed. (B08749)

Ken Lilly (British, 1929 - 1996) "European Wild Cat" Initialed lower middle. 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 Great Britain 31p Species at Risk; Wild Cat stamp issued May 20, 1986. The rugged terrain of the Scottish Highlands is one of the last strongholds for one of the world's rarest breeds of cats -- the European Wild Cat. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, this beautiful creature has sandy color with gray stripes marking its back and flanks, and dark rings circling its tail. Suspicious of man and populated areas, the Wild Cat dwells in forests where it can conceal itself in deep shadows and undergrowth. During daylight hours, the Wild Cat usually stays under cover. However, if the day is warm, it may enjoy sunning itself on a tree stump or rock. With the coming of twilight, the Wild Cat will begin to prowl meadows, clover fields and the forest's edge in search of its prey of small rodents. A solitary hunter, the Wild Cat marks its territory as its own by clawing at the base of trees and shrubs. Indeed, the Wild Cat will only seek the company of other Cats during the mating season. In the spring, females give birth to two to four kittens. During their first three months of life, the mother Wild Cat will teach her young how to stalk prey and even catch fish before sending them away to fend for themselves. Image Size: 13.5 x 13.5 in. Overall Size: 16 x 16 in. Unframed. (B10224)

Peter Barrett (British, B. 1935) "Coonhound and Foxhound" 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 Coonhound and Foxhound stamp issued April 4, 1985. As American as the deep South, the Black and Tan Coonhound is one of the few purebred dogs which originated in America. This hound was developed in the South from the bloodlines of the American Foxhound, the Virginia Foxhound of colonial days, and the Bloodhound -- the royal hound of Norman nobles. As a result of the careful work of early breeders, the Black and Tan Coonhound was standardized as an alert and expert tracker ... and was the first coonhound to be recognized as a purebred by the American Kennel Club. The Black and Tan Coonhound retains the classic hound coat of black and tan, pendulous ears and a long curving tail, but has lost the traditional wrinkles of his ancestors. Known as one of the best tracking dogs in the world, this beloved American canine is a devoted companion and loyal friend. Another beloved tracking dog of American origin is the American Foxhound. A cousin of the English Foxhound, this American dog may be the descendant of George Washington's crossbreeds of English hounds and long-eared French staghounds. The offspring of these two crossed varieties had an especially keen nose and amazing speed and endurance which made it a favorite for hunting fox through the roughest terrain. Even today, horsemen love to take the baying American Foxhound on traditional-style hunts ... even if the lure is only a scented bait. Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 in. Overall Size: 15 x 17.25 in. Unframed. (B99013)

Dan Fern (British, B. 1945) "Children's Playthings" 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 35p Toys and Games stamp issued May 16, 1989. Child's play is sometimes much more than that. It's partly fun but many of the activities of children also help them learn as they grow and prepare for adult life. Toys and play have even earned a role in formal education. Toward the end of the 17th century, primers began to appear under such alluring titles as The Child's Delight (1671) -- though by today's standards it is difficult to imagine a child finding much joy in this book. Then, in 1742, Mary Cooper published the much more amusing The Child's New Play-thing, which presented a folding sheet of letters, each backed by a clever alphabet-based verse. The letters were designed "to be cut into single Square for Children to play with," hence giving the child something to shuffle and arrange while savoring such lines as "A was an Archer and shot at a Frog." The steps from Mary Cooper's ingenious book to alphabetic flash cards and building blocks were very short ones indeed, and manufacturers soon were producing both in large quantities -- along with a host of other inventive educational toys intended to instruct as well as entertain. In time, books were even written to give children ideas for pure amusement. William Clarke's The Boy's Own Book, first published in 1828, went through more than twenty editions in Great Britain and the United States. In 1832, The Girls's Own Book by American author L.M. Child was almost equally successful. Image Size: 17.5 x 18.25 in. Overall Size: 21 x 22.75 in. Unframed. (B12021)

Mel Crawford (Canadian, B. 1925) "Flag Raised over Capitol" 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. 33c Flag Over City Self-Adhesive Coil stamp issued February 25, 1999. During the formative years of the American Revolution -- from the first protests in 1765 to the outbreak of hostilities in the spring of 1775 -- American flags featured a variety of emblems, like the rattlesnake, liberty pole and pine tree. Although these symbols were popular among local colonists, they failed to represent the nation as a whole. Most colonists still considered themselves British citizens and these conservative flag emblems signified an appeal to the King, Parliament and Heaven for preservation or restoration of the rights of Englishmen. In 1775, after the battles of Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill, colonists established the first unofficial national flag of the United States. Known as the Continental Colors, the flag was first hoisted by General George Washington on Prospect Hill on January 1, 1776. The Continental Colors displayed the Union Jack -- the British flag design consisting of the combined crosses of St. George and St. Andrew -- which symbolized American loyalty to the mother country. The flag also featured 13 stripes of red and white, signifying colonial unity. The flag was quite popular among colonists and universally accepted as the national flag. The Continental Colors flew for the first time in battle in early January 1776, aboard ships of the first regular American fleet under the command of Commodore Esek Hopkins. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 17.25 x 14.75 in. Unframed. (B06195)

Jim Butcher (American, B. 1944) "Freedom of Conscience/Statue of Liberty" 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 U.S. 34c Statue of Liberty stamp issued January 7, 2001. "She was beautiful with the sunshine so bright. Beautiful colors, greenish-like water -- and so big, and everybody was crying." An immigrant speaks of the rapture he felt upon arriving in America and seeing the magnificent Statue of Liberty. Another said, "We just gazed on it. We couldn't really grasp the meaning of it, but it was a very penetrating feeling to see that symbol of freedom." A gift from France to the United States, the Statue of Liberty was designed by French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. The artist incorporated several symbolic elements into the statue's design -- a broken chain at her feet represents freedom from tyranny, tablets held in her left arm are inscribed with the date of America's independence, the points on her crown represent the seven seas and the seven continents and, in her right hand, a torch is held high as a beacon of freedom. Attracting more than one million visitors a year, the Statue of Liberty is 151 feet tall. An elevator runs to the top of the pedestal, and steps within the statue lead to the crown with a 25-window observation platform. President Grover Cleveland dedicated the monument on October 28, 1886. Emma Lazarus's sublime poem, The New Colossus, was inscribed on a bronze plaque inside the statue, poignantly proclaiming America as a haven of refuge for all people seeking liberty and freedom. "Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand a mighty woman with a torch, whose flame is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles..." Image Size: 17.5 x 14.5 in. Overall Size: 22 x 19.75 in. Unframed. (B07139)

Ron Sloan (American, B. 1950) "U.S. Flag Behind Capitol" Signed lower right. 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 22c Flag Over Capitol stamp issued March 29, 1985. For more than two hundred years, the American Flag has reflected the growth and glory of the United States. It has stood as the proud symbol of the American people's hard-won freedoms, hopes, and aspirations. With its broad stripes and field of bright stars, it has recorded the expansion of the American domain from the eastern seaboard . . . to the shores of the Arctic Ocean . . . to the tropical waters of the mid-Pacific. Indeed, this one Flag has reflected the achievements and shared the sorrows of the United States of America. Although it is well understood what the Flag of the United States represents, the exact origins of this proud Banner are clouded in legend and romantic tradition. One story that caught the popular imagination concerns a Philadelphia seamstress named Betsy Ross who made flags during the Revolutionary War. Legend has it that this young widow created the first American Flag at the request of George Washington. While it is known that Betsy Ross was a flag maker, most historians discount this charming and popular tale of the first American Flag. Better evidence credits Francis Hopkinson -- a signer of the Declaration of Independence -- as the designer of the first Flag of the United States. Whatever the origins, the Star-Spangled Banner remains, even today, a cherished emblem of the American people. Image Size: 17.5 x 16.25 in. Overall Size: 25.5 x 19.75 in. Unframed. (B09455)

Ivan Kozlov (Russian, B. 1937) "Spectacled Eider" Signed and dated 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 First Day Cover for the Russia 300R Spectacled Eider stamp issued July 1, 1993. Whether flying low over a secluded lake or resting among the tundra grasses of Siberia, Spectacled Eider drakes can be distinguished from other eiders by their black undersides, large pale-green heads and spectacle-like patches around their eyes. However, only a fortunate few ever see these beautiful birds, for Spectacled Eiders live in some of the world's most rugged, unpopulated areas. Spectacled Eiders choose their nest sites in sedge meadows near tundra ponds. Females build nests by moving their chests and bellies back-and-forth in vegetative cover until a small depression is formed. These depressions are then lined with grasses and down. When her nest is complete, the female lays anywhere from five to seven olive-green eggs. Incubation lasts roughly 24 days. Despite the harsh arctic conditions in which Spectacled Eiders nest, a relatively high percentage of their eggs hatch, although some fall victim to predators such as foxes. On the average, each successful nest produces four ducklings. After hatching, the young are led by their mothers to fresh-water or brackish ponds. Hens with young are tolerant of each other but rarely combine broods as do Common Eiders. Although young Spectacled Eiders are inconspicuously colored and demonstrate a remarkable agility on water, many nevertheless fall victim to birds of prey. Those that survive are able to fly in roughly 50 days. Image Size: 6.75 x 8.75 in. Overall Size: 7.75 x 10 in. Unframed. (B14328)