When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
1928 Mexican Aviator Capt Emilio Carranza Lowell Airport Glass Negative OOAK
Original, one-of-a-kind (OOAK) camera-original antique 4x5 gelatin silver glass plate negative captured on June 21, 1928: a historic aviation document: famed Mexican aviator Captain Emilio Carranza ("The Lindbergh of Mexico") arriving at the newly opened Lowell Airport during his goodwill flight to the United States, walking the airfield with pioneer U.S. Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers, civic leaders, and state police escorts.
Accompanied by its original vintage tan kraft darkroom morgue filing sleeve with period newsroom documentation:
Historical & Aeronautical Significance:
In the summer of 1928, 22-year-old Captain Emilio Carranza Rodríguez was Mexico's foremost military aviator and national hero, dubbed "The Mexican Lindbergh" after completing record-setting long-distance solo flights in his Ryan Brougham monoplane, The Mexico Excelsior. Undertaking an official goodwill flight between Mexico City and the United States in reciprocity for Charles Lindbergh's 1927 tour, Carranza met with President Calvin Coolidge in Washington, received the key to New York City from Mayor Jimmy Walker, and flew to Lowell, Massachusetts, on June 21 to dedicate the city's new airport alongside local champion and Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers.
Tragically, just three weeks after this photograph was taken, Carranza encountered violent midsummer thunderstorms while attempting his nonstop return flight to Mexico, crashing fatally into the New Jersey Pine Barrens on July 12, 1928. This negative remains one of the final living press portraits of the revered aviator.
Captured on the airfield turf with superb natural clarity and character by Boston Herald-Traveler staff photojournalist Leslie Jones:
Captain Carranza: Striding in the center of the delegation in his tailored Mexican military officer's aviator tunic, peaked flight cap, Sam Browne cross-belt, jodhpur breeches, and tall polished leather boots, bearing pilot wings across his chest.
The Official Escort: Walking to his left is prominent Massachusetts Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers in a black cloche hat, drop-waist overcoat, and reception ribbon. Flanking the aviator are local Lowell reception officials in linen suits and panama hats, overseas service veterans, and a Massachusetts State Police officer in high-collar duty uniform and riding boots.
The Airport Backdrop: Set against the multi-pane industrial glass and brick facade of the new airport hangar facility, with unexposed rebate edges intact.
Specifications:
Format: Heavy antique silver gelatin 4x5 glass plate negative, exposed directly in a press camera on June 21, 1928.
Archive Ephemera Included: Accompanied by the original vintage tan kraft darkroom morgue filing envelope.
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 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. Heavy glass plate is structurally sound with no cracks, fractures, or perimeter glass breaks. The silver gelatin emulsion is clean, crisp, and stable throughout, capturing pinpoint clarity across facial features, uniform tailoring, and hangar architecture. Displays only minor authentic edge silvering and faint handling wear strictly along the extreme outer 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)
