John Swatsley (American, B. 1937) "Steamboat Phoenix (1809)" Signed lower right. Original Oil on Illustration Board painting. 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 Phoenix stamp issued March 3, 1989. In the beginning of the steamboat era, two gentlemen by the names of Fulton and Livingston had a monopoly on steamboat operation in the New York area. Also interested in steamboats was Livingston's brother-in-law, an inventor by the name of John Stevens, Jr. In order to raise money to finish a steamboat, the Clermont, Fulton and Livingston offered to take Stevens as a partner, for a price. He refused to pay, and in turn told them he was building a boat, the Phoenix, that was much superior to the Clermont. If he wasn't given a partnership, he would put his boat into competition with the Clermont and ruin their business. Fulton and Livingston offered Stevens a one-fifth share, but he had decided he wanted to be recognized as the inventor of the steamboat. Thus, Stevens launched the Phoenix in defiance of the Fulton-Livingston monopoly. He worked his steamboat on the Hudson and in New Jersey waters for close to a year, and when Fulton-Livingston succeeded in having the Phoenix legally tied up, he decided to move her to the Delaware, far from their territory. It was a weighty decision, for it meant the craft would have to swim through more than 150 miles of open ocean. Nevertheless, even though she was a boat designed to run in protected waters, the Phoenix set out to sea, with Captain Moses Rogers as her master. Thirteen days later, the Phoenix reached Philadelphia. The successful completion of her journey earned the little side-wheeler her place in American history. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20.5 x 18 in. Unframed. (B11900)