1930 East Boston Airport Air Meet Crowd Biplanes Logan Field Glass Negatives (2) for Sale

1930 East Boston Airport Air Meet Crowd Biplanes Logan Field Glass Negatives (2) For Sale

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1930 East Boston Airport Air Meet Crowd Biplanes Logan Field Glass Negatives (2):
$250.00

1930 East Boston Airport Air Meet Crowd Biplanes Logan Field Glass Negatives (2)

Pair of two (2) original, one-of-a-kind (OOAK) camera-original antique 4x5 gelatin silver glass plate negatives captured in September 1930: an electric documentary record of Golden Age American aviation and mass culture: hundreds of enthusiastic spectators in straw skimmers and fedoras packed onto the tarmac at East Boston Airport (now Logan International Airport) during an autumn air meet, watching overhead aerial maneuvers beside rows of vintage parked cabin monoplanes and open-cockpit biplanes.

Accompanied by its original vintage tan kraft darkroom morgue filing sleeve bearing contemporary newsroom documentation:

The Sleeve Inscription:
Name: East Boston

Order: Airport:

Remarks: Sept 1930

Historical & Aviation Context:

Dedicated in 1923 on filled tidal mudflats in Boston Harbor, East Boston Airport (later renamed General Edward Lawrence Logan Airport) was New England’s epicenter for early military maneuvers, airmail routes, and high-energy civilian air circuses. In the late summer and autumn of 1930, tens of thousands of regional spectators flocked to the coastal airfield to witness visiting transatlantic aviators, precision military formation flyovers, and civilian exhibition racers.

Captured from an elevated vantage point with extraordinary crowd-depth resolution:

The 1930s Spectator Sea: An expansive view overlooking scores of men, women, and children packed onto the gravel flight line apron. Countless details resolve 1930 fashion—straw boater/skimmer hats, soft fedoras, newsboy flat caps, tailored double-breasted suits, and flapper-era summer dresses—as spectators point, shield their eyes, and wave hats toward the sky.
The Flight Line Aircraft: Lined up in crisp perspective across the runway are multiple Golden Age aircraft types, including a high-wing cabin monoplane and two staggered open-cockpit biplanes resting on wire-spoke taildragger landing gear, staged alongside field service ladders and fuel tenders.
Coastal Harbor Backdrop: In the distance across the tidal field lies the open water of Boston Harbor and the low, distant shoreline horizon.
Tonal Fidelity: Rich continuous-tone silver gelatin gradation distinguishing bleached linen suits, dark woolen coats, shimmering aircraft fabric, and bright outdoor skies.

Specifications:

Format: Pair of two (2) heavy antique silver gelatin 4x5 glass plate negatives, exposed directly in a press camera in September 1930.
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 photographs, modern prints, or paper products of any kind are included with this purchase.

Condition:

Very Good to Excellent antique condition. Both heavy glass plates are structurally sound and complete with no cracks, fractures, or perimeter glass breaks across either plate body. The silver gelatin emulsions are remarkably clean, sharp, and stable throughout both compositions, capturing microscopic facial expressions, clothing weaves, and aircraft rigging across the entire field. Displays only faint authentic 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) Related Items: