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Will James Snook Trading Post Montana Cowboys

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:100.00 - 200.00 USD
Will James Snook Trading Post Montana Cowboys
Included in this lot is a Snook Trading Post Montana Cowboys print collection by Will James, publisher Charles Scribner's Sons. The collection consists of twelve (12) coloured prints from three of James' famous books, including his Newbery Medal winner, "Smoky the Cowhorse". Will James (1892-1942), an artist who painted in the tradition of Charles Russell, was a cowboy. His familiarity with the open range, herding cattle, and breaking horses, allowed him to capture in his illustrations, short stories, and paintings an image of the gritty individual accustomed to life on the range. James always tried to capture the real cowboy, not the heroic one who lived in the minds of most Americans. The Snook Trading Post in Billings, Montana is part of the Snook Art Gallery history of the Snook Family in the art of the West including the forging of acquaintances with Ernest Hemingway and Will James among many others. The friendship the family enjoyed with celebrated western artist and writer Will James is evidenced by the Yellowstone Art Museum’s Virginia Snook Collection, which represents the largest collection of James art in the world. This collection includes: "A Cow Outfit Of My Own" 1929 and "Taming A Tough One" 1928, both from the book "Cowboy in the Making" 1937; "All's Fine" 1930, "Cheer Of Home Fires Not For Wanted" 1929, "Friend And Foe" 1931, "Line Camp" 1932, "Rope Corral" 1929 all from the book "Lone Cowboy" 1932; and lastly, "Fight On The Range" 1929, "In A Bad Way" 1928, "Smoky And Colts" 1928, "Smoky And Snubing Post" 1929, "The Horse Thief" 1929, all from the Newbery Medal winner "Smoky" 1929. The printed "dates" were for the publisher, Charles Scribner's Sons when they reprinted the originals. These colour prints are in amazingly nice condition, age tanning exhibited to the borders not affecting the images. Prints are individually mounted to shrink wrapped foam boards. No obvious marring observed. Smallest size visible art measures 8"W x 10"L, foam board is 9"W x 10.5L. Largest size visible art measures 9"W x 11"L, foam board is 9.5"W x 11.75"L