Hayes,

I appreciate your going to all that trouble. I thought I was pretty sure of the artist's name, but now I'm starting to have doubts. I had seen an earlier reference to a "Frank L. Shepard collection" in the Northstar Galleries, which appears to be a fairly ritzy New York art gallery specializing in nautical art, and have contacted them to see if they can direct me anywhere. Will let you know if I ever locate my elusive artist. (And if his name actually was Shepard.)