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1928 Graf Zeppelin Airship Biplane Escort New Jersey Glass Plate Negative OOAK
Original, one-of-a-kind (OOAK) vintage 4x5 gelatin silver glass plate newsroom copy negative produced in October 1928, documenting the historic arrival of the German commercial dirigible LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin as it flies over coastal New Jersey on its final approach to Lakehurst Naval Air Station.
Photographed from an accompanying aircraft, this dramatic aerial shot captures the massive 776-foot rigid airship banking low over the winding waterways and marshes of New Jersey, accompanied by a single-engine military/press escort biplane flying overhead in tight formation. This flight marked the triumphant conclusion of the Graf Zeppelin's maiden commercial transatlantic crossing under Commander Hugo Eckener, which carried 20 passengers, 40 crew members, and transatlantic airmail from Friedrichshafen, Germany, to the United States.
The high-altitude aerial perspective features outstanding historic detail:
The sleek duralumin hull and lower engine cars of the LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin viewed from an elevated three-quarter angle.
A vintage 1920s open-cockpit escort biplane banked above the dirigible with wing insignia visible.
The intricate marshland topography, winding river bends, and rural landscape of late-1920s New Jersey below.
Format: Heavy antique silver gelatin glass plate copy negative, produced in the newspaper darkroom directly from wire press photography for October 1928 edition publication.
Archive Sleeve Included: Accompanied by its original vintage cream paper darkroom filing sleeve, bearing period pencil notation: "Zep - flying over New Jersey - Oct. 1928".
Please Note: This listing is for the original antique glass plate negative and its 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 a finished photograph prints like. No physical paper photograph, modern print, or paper product of any kind is included with this purchase.
Condition: Very Good antique condition. Heavy glass plate is intact with no cracks, fractures, or perimeter chipping. Emulsion exhibits crisp contrast and sharp aerial detail throughout the airship, escort plane, and landscape. Features original darkroom copy-work reproduction borders and minor authentic edge silver mirroring outside the image area, consistent with a working 1928 press archive plate. Accompanied by the original period handwritten filing envelope.
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)
