Keith Reynolds (American, B. 1929) "British Man-of-War HMS Serpent" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Canvas Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 52c British Man-of-War HMS Serpent stamp and First Day Cover issued October 14, 1993. Designed by William Symonds, the HMS Serpent was built at the Deptford Yard in England in 1832. A brig-rigged sloop (an historic rating in the Royal Navy) the Serpent extended just over 102 feet in length and displaced 432 tons. A huge vessel, she normally required a crew of over 100 men. Twenty years after her christening, the vessel was assigned to the Pacific to ascertain the fate of the lost whaling ship Waverly. Under the command of Captain L.U. Hammet, the Serpent spent four days in January of 1853 visiting such islands as Rognerik, Wotho, Kwajalein and Lae. On some islands, the ship was met by friendly natives who traded with the crew, while other islands greeted the Serpent with resistance, proving the need for her 16 cannons. Image Size: 16 x 20 in. Overall Size: 16 x 20 in. Unframed. (B14491)