John Swatsley (American, B. 1937) "Ely's No. 10" Signed lower right. Original Watercolor painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 29c Ely's No. 10 stamp issued July 28, 1994. "I do verily believe that carriages propelled by steam will come into general use, and travel at the rate of 300 miles a day." These words were spoken by Oliver Evans, creator of the Oruktor Amphibolus, a steam dredge he designed for the Philadelphia Board of Health in 1801. Evans was scoffed at when he proposed this innovative means of transportation, and further ridiculed when he suggested the possibility of a steam-powered railroad between Philadelphia and New York. Unfortunately, Evans died before seeing his dream fulfilled. However other inventors, such as English engineer George Stephenson, continued to pursue the notion of creating a steam locomotive. In 1814, he designed the Blucher, a "traveling engine" named after the Duke of Wellington's Prussian comrade-in-arms during the Battle of Waterloo. This invention was eventually followed by more advanced engines. And on September 27, 1825, Stephenson's expertise and ambition brought about the opening of the Stockton & Darlington, the world's first public railroad. Just four years later, across the Atlantic, America's very first steam locomotives were taking shape. By 1881, the railroad industry had become a major mode of transportation in the United States. This coalburning locomotive was considered to be the fastest and most-admired of its time. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20 x 17.5 in. Unframed. (B14717)