Herb Kawainui Kane (Hawaii, Illinois, 1928 - 2011) Original Acrylic painting on Illustration Board titled, "Marshall Islands Christmas Carolers" Signed lower left. Original Acrylic painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was published on the First Day Cover for the Republic of the Marshall Islands 29c Silent Night stamp issued October 25, 1993. On Christmas Eve of 1818, in the town of Oberndorf, Austria, Pastor Joseph Mohr wrote the lyrics to one of the best-loved carols of all time, Silent Night. Without Mohr's tenacity there would have been no music for his parish's Christmas services because the church organ was in disrepair. Inspired by a mother and baby that he had visited earlier in the day, and with the aid of the local schoolmaster Franz Gruber, Mohr created a song that could be performed by guitar. Although the hymn was forgotten among the choir manuscripts for many years, it was rediscovered and made popular by a family of singers who toured Europe and America more than 20 years after its debut. Today, 175 years after it was written, Silent Night has become a Christmas tradition. In the Marshall Islands, where it's known as Bon Emman, this stirring hymn is often heard echoing through the island palms on a moonlit evening. Image Size: 17.5 x 21 in. Overall Size: 20.75 x 24.25 in. Unframed. (B14543)