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1924 Boston T-Wharf Italian Fishermen Fleet Drying Nets Glass Negatives (2) OOAK
Pair of original, one-of-a-kind (OOAK) camera-original antique 4x5 gelatin silver glass plate negatives captured circa 1920s: an evocative Boston maritime and immigrant history sequence: the Italian-American commercial fishing fleet tied up at historic T-Wharf in Boston Harbor, showing wooden dragger boats with their rigging draped in towering webbed nets hung out to dry.
Accompanied by its original vintage tan kraft darkroom morgue filing sleeve:
Historical & Maritime Content:
For generations, Boston\'s historic T-Wharf—located just off Atlantic Avenue near Long Wharf—served as the vibrant cultural and commercial heart of the city\'s Italian-American fishing community. Known colloquially as the \"dago fleet\" or \"macaroni fleet,\" these skilled fishermen operated sturdy wooden diesel and gasoline draggers, bringing fresh catches of haddock, cod, and mackerel into downtown Boston before many operations transitioned to the modern Boston Fish Pier.
Captured with exquisite clarity and harbor atmosphere by Boston Herald-Traveler staff photojournalist Leslie Jones:
The Fleet & Rigging: Multiple wooden fishing vessels lie moored gunwale-to-gunwale along the wharf slips, including boats lettered \"JOE D\'AMBROSIO\" and registration \"C1478\". Heavy twine nets are hoisted aloft to the mastheads, cascading down the forestays and stays like black lace to dry in the breeze.
Harbor Dories: In the foreground water bob small wooden rowing dories, work skiffs, oars, buoys, and tackle boxes loaded with line and floats.
Historic Waterfront Architecture: In the background looms the massive multi-story brick and granite facade of the historic commercial warehouses lining Atlantic Avenue, prominently painted with vintage period business signage including \"ARMOUR AND COMPANY\" and \"NEW YORK & BOSTON BAG CO. / BURLAPS / BAGS\".
Specifications:
Format: Pair of two (2) heavy antique silver gelatin 4x5 glass plate negatives, exposed directly in a press camera, circa 1920s.
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 with no cracks, fractures, or perimeter breaks. The silver gelatin emulsions are exceptionally clean, sharp, and stable throughout, capturing pinpoint clarity across the webbed netting, wooden hulls, rope coils, and warehouse masonry. Displays only minor authentic edge silvering 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)
