Paul Calle (American, 1928 - 2010) and Chris Calle (American, B. 1961) "1930s - Empire State Building" 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 Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 32c Empire State Building/1930's 20th Century stamps issued September 10, 1998. The wide-spread growth of skyscrapers in American cities was a direct result of the success of industry and commerce. Confronted with a need for maximum office space on a minimum of land, architects devised a new type of building -- the skyscraper. These magnificent creations were made possible by the invention of the elevator, the fabrication of steel skeleton frameworks and the development of inexpensive methods of manufacturing glass. One of the world's most astounding skyscrapers is New York City's Empire State Building. Constructed on a site that had first been occupied by two mansions of the Astor family, then by the old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, the structure is located at 350 5th Avenue at 34th Street in midtown Manhattan. Completed in 1931, the Empire State Building rises to a height of 1,250 feet. When the building opened, throngs of sightseers paid to ascend to the observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors, where they were treated to breathtaking views of the surrounding metropolitan area. Many astonished visitors witnessed it raining below them while they basked in the sun's rays. Majestic in its simplicity, the Empire State Building relies on an effective balance of mass, fine proportion and emphasis on vertical lines. It was the first skyscraper of such towering dimensions and, until 1954, the highest structure in the world. Image Size: 13.25 x 11.5 in. Overall Size: 22 x 16 in. Unframed. (B16172 / B16173)