Through the Gate

Charlie Johnson Payne, “Snaffles” (1884 – 1967)

A Christmas card, hand-coloured and inscribed by the artist:

“You ’airdresser on the chestnut ’oss. Pray ’old ’ard.”
“Hairdresser. I’m an officer in the 91st Regiment.”
“Then you hossifer in the 91st Regiment wot
looks like an ’airdresser – ’Old ’Ard!!!” Snaffles.

Also with a signed, hand-written greeting verso:
“A Happy Xmas Mac and good luck in 1954. Snaff.
I see Brain (sic) has got another ‘stripe’
What a good type of lad he was, no wonder he has gone on.”

6” x 8” (15.2 cm x 20.3 cm)

Charlie Johnson Payne (“Snaffles”) was born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and his earliest childhood memories were of the Warwickshire Yeomanry Cavalry parading through the streets of Warwick and stories of The Crimean War told by his great-uncle. From these memories came Snaffles’ interests in horses and the military, interests that led to his becoming one of the foremost sporting and military artists and book illustrators of the 20th Century. Snaffles’ commercial career began when he was sent to France in 1914 to report on the War. His first sketches were printed in “The Graphic” in November that year. Between 1918 and 1939, Snaffles produced more than 60 titles of prints. Sadly, much of his original work was destroyed in a warehouse fire. Fortunately, the artist hand-coloured some of his prints and these are regarded as works of art in their own right. This example is not only hand-coloured by Snaffles, but also has a rare inscription in his own hand.