Ed Little (American, B. 1957) "1990 Christmas/Contemporary - Santa with Child" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is the original paining which was published on the Fleetwood Maximum Card for the U.S. 25c Christmas Tree stamp issued October 18, 1990. If the celebration of the birth of Christ were compacted into one year, the tradition of the Christmas Tree would be but days old. Though the exact date of origin is disputed, it is widely recognized that the Christmas Tree is a German invention dating roughly from the 16th or 17th centuries. Early legend has it that the first Christmas tree was cut down by Martin Luther and decorated with candles to represent the star-filled Holy Night in Bethlehem. German immigrants brought their ways -- including the Christmas Tree as a holiday tradition -- to the New World. Today, the Christmas Tree is the centerpiece of Christmas celebrations across the nation, and can take on many sizes and shapes: from giant saguaro cactus in sunny, dry Arizona to rich, green fir trees in the snow-frosted New England states or modernistic trees. Image Size: 15.75 x 21.25 in. Overall Size: 20 x 29.75 in. Unframed. (B12570)