Rare Snaffles, Charles Johnson Payne Print, WWI Aviation, The Sea Hawk
Item History & Price
I inherited a series of these Snaffles prints in 1971 from Capt. X. Martin Smith of Los Angeles. Capt Smith had been a skipper of a mine sweeper in WWI and received the Navy Cross for his efforts. He also somehow bought these Snaffles prints. Snaffles is also known as Charles Johnson Payne, 1884-1967, whose subjects were primarily hunting (via horseback) and military topics from WWI and WWII. He is known to have hand colored these prints then sign them in the lo...wer left corner. I remember dimly, reading Smith's will where he said he had modified the matt of this particular print and copied the mat artwork from the original. I don't remember why he said he did this, but I feel this is definitely Smith's artwork and his copy of Snaffles signature. The print however is gorgeous and all original. There is no glass presently on this print and the condition of the frame is clear from the photos. It is shedding paint regularly. Smith in WWII served as a torpedo training specialist. Included in this listing is a photo of Smith on one of his vessels in WWI and some of his artifacts in my possession.
