Featured Old painting

OK, I fiddled with the above back of the smaller one too, and at this point, since there is SO LITTLE to try and pull up/out, I have to let younger eyes see if they can put anything together!!! I DO see some other letters showing, but haven't been able to put together words....maybe others can!!

 

And @Tess, just wondering if you had any luck getting the larger painting out of the frame carefully??? Still thinking there "could" be a hidden signature.......I've lightened the painting and searched it over as well with so far nothing showing......

 

I can do that this afternoon. Which painting for the close-up though. The ships or the other one?

 

Wow. Thank you! I can make out a lot more, but can't seem to bring it together.

 

I will try again this afternoon. Fingers crossed.

 

Looks like "SWANSON" just above the "LONDON W." not sure though.

The painting was rolled and crushed just a tad (like in a suitcase) so I'm pretty sure it's a souvenir.

Still looks like a Vietnam era, style and origin to me.

 

The "London, W." on the canvas' back was used from 1857 until 1919.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postcodes_in_the_United_Kingdom

Debora

 

Thanks Debora. That period of time has about the right feel to me. The ships painting feels around 1880 to me.