Dean Ellis (New York, 1920 - 2009) "Northern (Steller) Sea Lion" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is the original paiting which was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 25c Northern Sea Lion stamp issued October 3, 1990. From the Soviet Union's Sea of Okhotsk to California's San Miguel Island, the month of May rings with the deep-throated roar of the Northern or Steller Sea Lion. May is the season when the huge bulls gather on isolated rocky shorelines to fight for a home territory and to gather harems of ten to twenty cows. The Steller Sea Lion is the largest of its family, with the males often attaining a weight of 2,000 pounds -- three times as much as their mates. A shy animal, the Steller Sea Lion requires breeding ground far from the reaches of man. Today, some 250,000 sea lions live and breed on the rocky shorelines of Alaska, Russia and British Columbia where they eat a wide variety of marine life, primarily fish. Image Size: 17.5 x 15.25 in. Overall Size: 24 x 24 in. Unframed. (B12470)