Don Balke (North Carolina, B. 1933) "Alaska Brown Bear" 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. Wildlife of the 50 States 22c Brown Bear/Alaska stamp issued June 13, 1987.

Although several species of Brown Bears are native to a number of regions around the world, the largest of these -- and indeed the world's largest living terrestrial carnivore -- is the Alaska Brown Bear. Also known as the Kodiak Bear, these Bears may reach nine feet in length and weigh more than three-quarters of a ton. Preferring a solitary life, when spring arrives, these huge Bears shuffle along well-worn trails to salmon-rich streams where they feed after the winter's hibernation. Frequently, the Bears will quarrel over territorial fishing rights. After disputes are settled, they get down to the business of catching fish. Fishing techniques differ between individuals. Some aggressive Bears wade out among the fish and squat down so that the current boils over them, and when a fish passes by, an effortless head nod or paw swipe yields a meal. Others prefer to wait by the banks for fish darting close to shore so a powerful brown paw can pin it down. Still other Bears refuse to fish at all, preferring to sneak off with an unwary neighbor's catch. One of the most unpredictable and dangerous animals man can encounter in the wild, the Alaska Brown Bear is, nonetheless, a stirring sight.

Image Size: 13.5 x 14.5 in.
Overall Size: 14 x 17 in.
Unframed.
(B10607)

- By registering to bid for this auction either in-house or online and/or placing a bid in this auction the BIDDER/BUYER agrees to all the terms and conditions of Helmuth Stone Gallery Auctions.

- All silver, gold and/or jewelry lots or invoices containing said lots MUST be paid for via WIRE TRANSFER, no other forms of payment will be accepted.

- All items are sold as-is where-is and no guarantees are made of any kind. All sales are final; no refunds will be given under any circumstances.

- Helmuth Stone Gallery provides condition reports as a courtesy to our clients and assumes no liability for any error or omission. Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client and is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Descriptions are our opinions and should in no way be construed as a guarantee of any kind as to age, condition, mater. The bidder assumes responsibility for ensuring that the condition of the item(s) meets with their satisfaction prior to bidding. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging.

- Online images can sometimes be low quality due to the uploading process, original high-resolution images can be requested via email at HelmuthStone@gmail.com

- We recommend looking into shipping quotes prior to bidding, shipping quotes can take up to a week or more post-sale as we host our auctions through multiple online platforms and shipping can become backlogged, if you would like a list of local shippers please email us directly.

- Our auction catalogs are hosted through multiple online platforms along with phone and in-house bidding. Bids placed on other platforms are not shown through this catalog. Because of this, even if it appears you are the only absentee bid or bidder on a lot, you may already be outbid or may have placed a bid equal to another bidder. Therefore, we always recommend bidding live.

- Unless otherwise stated in the description, all items are sold without additional documentation or COAs. If any supporting documentation is available an image will be available online via the catalog listing.

14 x 17 in