1920s Raptor Bird of Prey Hawk Falcon Eagle Aviary Glass Negative OOAK For Sale

1920s Raptor Bird of Prey Hawk Falcon Eagle Aviary Glass Negative OOAK

Original, one-of-a-kind (OOAK) camera-original antique gelatin silver glass negative captured circa late 1920s to early 1930s: an exquisite natural history portrait of an American raptor: an alert falcon / hawk bird of prey perched upright upon a rustic timber beam, preserved with its original newsroom morgue sleeve titled \"Eagle\".

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

• The Sleeve Inscription:

  Morgue Envelope: Name: Eagle

  Archival Insert Card: Eagle

Historical & Pictorial Context:

During the interwar era, Boston newspaper feature departments frequently covered wildlife rehabilitations, local sanctuary arrivals, and zoo specimens across Greater Boston (such as the Franklin Park Zoo aviary). Newsroom filing desks routinely employed broad vernacular tags, indexing this impressive bird of prey simply as an \"Eagle,\" though its anatomical characteristics reflect a classic medium raptor—displaying sharp, intelligent orbital eyes, a notched hooked bill, delicate breast shaft-streaks, and powerful talons clasped around a wooden perch. The high-silver gelatin emulsion renders pin-sharp clarity across every barb of the feathers.

Visual details preserved in the silver gelatin emulsion:

• The Raptor: Captured in an upright, watchful three-quarter stance, showing layered wing coverts, crisp facial feathering, distinct downy breast plumage, and curved talons gripping the timber crossrail.

• Studio Depth: Softly illuminated vertical backdrop elements separating cleanly from the subject, allowing every contour of the head, nape, and back plumage to stand out in relief.

• Tonal Fidelity: Continuous-tone silver gelatin tonal depth resolving specular catchlights in the eye, natural wood checking along the perch, and individual feather textures.

Specifications:

• Format: Heavy antique silver gelatin press glass negative, exposed directly in-camera circa 1925–1935.

• Archive Ephemera: Accompanied by the original period tan kraft darkroom morgue filing envelope and inner archive 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 exceptionally clean, sharp, and firmly adhered across the composition, retaining needle-sharp focus across the bird\'s plumage, eye, and perch. Authentic unexposed handling borders remain preserved along the outer glass rebate margins. 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)