John Swatsley (American, B. 1937) "1890s Railway Mail Train" 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 of Issue Maximum Card for the U.S. (25c) E Earth Rate coil booklet stamp issued March 22, 1988. The steam engine brought many changes to the country, offering sturdy, reliable transportation, often over a vast wilderness. Communication from the frontier had always been a problem, and now, the railroads came to solve it. Chugging onward, the "Iron Horse" quickly proved its worth to even the most skeptical of its detractors. In 1864, the Railway Mail Service was instituted to provide fast local service, and trains with specially designed Postal Cars were quickly attached to rugged engines. Agents sorted as the trains rolled on, and then, by hand, they transferred mail sacks as the trains slowed at designated pick-up spots. Later, special cranes were utilized to facilitate better coordinated mail swaps, and by 1875, the system had spread into even wider use. On into the 20th century, Mail Trains delivered mail over some 586 million miles per year. Today, instead of crossing continents, the mail must span a globe, and in ever-faster time. Image Size: 8.75 x 12.25 in. Overall Size: 15 x 18 in. Unframed. (B11423)