Barry Wilkinson (British, B. 1923) "Great Britain -- 1911 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost" Signed lower right. Original Watercolor painting on Illustration Board.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting was published on the Fleetwood Europa Cover for the Great Britain two 20-1/2P Europa stamps issued May 15, 1984.

Known as the "Best Car in the World," the Rolls-Royce was also to have the longest run of any automobile in history. The first Silver Ghosts were shown in 1907 and they remained in production with only minor alterations until 1925. In all, eight thousand were built. When the car was first introduced, employee Claude Johnson developed a scheme to get it some much needed publicity. First, he took the thirteenth chassis built and had it painted silver. Then the Roi des Belges touring body was similarly colored and all the metalwork was silver-plated. Thus, the Silver Ghost came into being. Silver because of its finish and Ghost because of its silent running. Strictly speaking, there was only this one actual Silver Ghost and it is owned by the company. Immediately after the creation of this marvelous silver motorcar, Claude Johnson set out to prove the car's reliability and performance. The Rolls-Royce firm discontinued all other models, leaving the acclaimed Silver Ghost in splendid isolation. Although not a design leader, the Silver Ghost was at all times the best built and most carefully tested car in the world. The model in the painting is the 1911 40/50 Silver Ghost. It was in this year that the Silver Lady was first used on the radiator cap. Designed by Charles Sykes RA., a well-known sculptor, the lady represents the Silver Ghost's effortless "flight." The handsome Silver Ghost Rolls-Royce is shown in front of the Royal Exchange in London.

Image Size: 10.75 x 9 in.
Overall Size: 13 x 11.5 in.
Unframed.
(B09230)

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13 x 11.5 in