Basil Smith: Firepumper 1860s

Artist: Basil Smith
1925 -
Nationality: British
Artwork Year: 1982
Image Size: 7 by 6 inches
Overall Size: 10 by 9 inches
Medium: Mixed Media on Hot Press Illustration Board

The history of modern firefighting actually began during the United States' colonial era, but it was a major disaster in the mother country -- England -- that prompted its swift development. The "Great Fire" of London in 1666 nearly destroyed the entire city and made Americans well aware of the danger of fire from the early days of nationhood. Two hundred years after the Great Fire of London, the steam pumper became the biggest fire fighting innovation in nineteenth century America. Steam power and a trend toward horse-drawn (rather than man-powered) wagons vastly improved most American fire fighting units. The 1860's fire pumper featured in this painting is an Amoskeag engine, purchased second-hand by the city of Alexandria, Virginia. In Alexandria, it was assigned to a volunteer company that became known as Columbia Engine Company No. 4. A boiler produced steam which operated a suction-type engine that pumped water from any available source and propelled it towards a fire. By the twentieth century, further innovations in fire pumpers replaced horses with engines, added more flexible fire hoses and made direct connections into networks of fire hydrants which are now common sights in most American communities.

This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover of the U.S. 20¢ Fire Pumper 1860s stamp issued December 19, 1981.

Artwork Copyright © 1982 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB06233

US$ Price: $950.00

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