1932 East Boston Airport Airplanes Amphibian Biplane Glass Negatives (2) OOAK
Pair of two (2) original, one-of-a-kind (OOAK) camera-original antique 4x5 gelatin silver glass plate negatives captured in May 1932: a classic interwar aviation pair: two historic aircraft documented on the flight line at East Boston Airport (now Boston Logan International Airport), featuring a radial-engine amphibious flying boat and a tandem open-cockpit military biplane trainer.
Accompanied by the original vintage tan kraft darkroom morgue filing sleeve bearing contemporary newsroom documentation:
Historical & Aeronautical Significance:
During the early 1930s, East Boston Airport was developing into New England\'s premier aviation crossroads, handling commercial passenger transports, experimental coastal amphibians, and military training flights from the Massachusetts National Guard and Army Air Corps reserve units. These two field negatives capture the mechanical diversity of the era\'s aircraft designs on the hard-packed field apron.
Captured on the ramp with fine lens fidelity by Boston Herald-Traveler staff photojournalist Leslie Jones:
Plate 1 — Coastal Amphibian Flying Boat: A clean, broadside three-quarter study of a civil amphibious monoplane/sesquiplane resting on its beaching gear. Details include the boat hull fuselage, pontoon floats, strut network, cabin glazing, wing registration lettering, and the high-mounted radial engine with forward propeller blades.
Plate 2 — Military Flight Trainer Biplane: A crisp ground-level perspective of a tandem open-cockpit biplane, displaying its forward radial engine cowl, streamline landing gear struts, fabric-ribbed wings, empennage, and the distinct U.S. military star roundel on the lower port wing.
Tonal Fidelity: Rich silver gelatin contrast separating metallic engine components, taut doped-fabric wings, and open Boston airfield sky.
Specifications:
Format: Pair of two (2) heavy antique silver gelatin 4x5 glass plate negatives, exposed directly in a press camera in May 1932.
Archive Ephemera Included: Accompanied by the original vintage tan kraft darkroom morgue filing envelope.
Please Note: This listing is for the two (2) original antique glass plate negatives and their period paper archive sleeve only. Any positive photographic images shown in this listing are modern inverted digital scans provided solely as a visual representation to show what finished photographs print like. No physical paper photograph, modern print, or paper product of any kind is included with this purchase.
Condition:
Very Good to Excellent antique condition. Both heavy glass plates are structurally sound with no cracks, fractures, or perimeter glass breaks. The silver gelatin emulsions are clean, sharp, and stable throughout, preserving crisp focus across both airframes, rigging wires, and landing gear. Plate 2 displays a minor authentic localized emulsion anomaly in the upper sky background that does not compromise the airplane subject. Minor handling wear strictly along the extreme outer rebate borders outside the primary image area. Accompanied by the original period kraft morgue filing sleeve.
The glass plate negative measures 4 x 5In.
If you collect glass negatives, please check out our collection in our store. We are currently listing thousands of original glass photo negatives from this DJD collection through the remainder of the year. Follow our store, and feel free to reach out about any questions about the negatives in this collection.
Ships with extreme care in archival materials to ensure safe transit. Feel free to reach out with any requests or questions).
Combined shipping is available (with other glass negatives)
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