1920 Sir Thomas Lipton Shamrock IV Yacht America Eagle Glass Negative OOAK For Sale

1920 Sir Thomas Lipton Shamrock IV Yacht America Eagle Glass Negative OOAK

Original, one-of-a-kind (OOAK) camera-original antique gelatin silver glass negative captured on June 19, 1920: a magnificent, museum-grade photographic document of America's Cup lore and international yachting history: legendary five-time challenger Sir Thomas Lipton posing on deck with his mascot, the historic carved wooden American Federal eagle from the original 1851 schooner yacht America, during the 1920 America's Cup campaign with Shamrock IV.

Accompanied by its original vintage tan kraft darkroom morgue filing sleeve and historic newsroom index insert card bearing contemporary documentation:

• The Sleeve Inscriptions:

  Top Inscription: Name Thomas Lipton / Remarks on Shamrock IV

  Contextual Note: Tom has his mascot. This eagle was won by the American defending yacht, America in the year of 1851 the first yacht race in the history of sport. 6/19, 20.

Historical & Maritime Significance:

Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton (1848–1931), the Scottish grocery and tea merchant, became one of the most beloved sporting figures of the twentieth century through his persistent, gentlemanly quest to "lift the Auld Mug"—the America's Cup. After World War I delayed the matches, the 1920 America's Cup off New York marked Lipton's fourth challenge aboard Charles E. Nicholson's radical racing cutter Shamrock IV.

Captured on June 19, 1920, just weeks before the historic races against the defender Resolute, this exceptional camera-original news plate portrays Lipton on deck holding his prized good-luck mascot: an antique hand-carved Federal eagle sternboard carving directly associated with the schooner America, the vessel that won the inaugural race around the Isle of Wight in 1851. Lipton's 1920 challenge proved his closest ever, winning the first two races before Resolute staged a comeback to retain the cup.

Visual details preserved in the silver gelatin emulsion:

• Sir Thomas Lipton: Posing in his iconic maritime uniform—peaked yachting cap with gold insignia, polka-dot necktie, waistcoat, and heavy double-breasted pea coat with brass anchor buttons.

• The 1851 Yacht America Eagle: A prominent carved folk art Federal eagle held across his chest, displaying deeply incised feathers, outspread wings, carved stars and stripes on the heraldic chest shield, and clutch of war arrows.

• Vessel Deck Setting: Posed beside a massive riveted steam funnel and iron companionway ladder leading belowdecks.

• Tonal Fidelity: Rich continuous-tone silver gelatin tonal gradation rendering fine carving gouge marks on the eagle, facial wrinkles, his iconic white mustache, and crisp fabric textures.

Specifications:

• Format: Heavy antique silver gelatin press glass negative, exposed directly in-camera on June 19, 1920.

• Archive Ephemera: Accompanied by the original period tan kraft darkroom morgue filing envelope and newsroom index card.

Please Note: This listing is for the original antique glass 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. The heavy glass plate is structurally sound, stable, and completely intact with no cracks, fractures, breaks, or chips through the glass body. The silver gelatin emulsion is remarkably clean, sharp, and firmly adhered across the composition, retaining needle-sharp optical focus on Lipton's portrait, the carved eagle mascot, and ship's deck gear. Authentic unexposed handling borders remain preserved along the outer glass rebate margins. Accompanied by the original period kraft morgue filing sleeve and annotated index slip.

The glass plate negative measures 4 x 5In.
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