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1928 Sells Floto Circus Women Acrobats Boston Big Top Glass Negative OOAK
Captivating original antique gelatin silver glass plate camera negative taken on May 27, 1928, capturing three female acrobats / aerialists of the Sells-Floto Circus in elaborate performance attire behind the big top canvas in Boston.
Preserved directly within the historic press morgue of the Boston Herald-Traveler, this original field exposure offers an authentic behind-the-scenes look at circus life during the final golden summer of outdoor tented railroad shows in Boston.
The Original Morgue Sleeve Inscription:
Accompanied by its original vintage green-tinted newspaper darkroom filing sleeve:
Historical & Visual Content:
On May 27, 1928, staff photographer Leslie Jones documented the lot of the Sells-Floto Circus on the Southampton Street grounds in South Boston during their annual spring engagement:
The Performers: Three young women—likely members of a featured family acrobatic, tumbling, or aerial troupe—stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the grass. They wear sleeveless performance leotards adorned with bold celestial star/floral centerpieces, full-length white stage tights, and diagonal fringed hip sashes.
Period Flapper Styling: Each performer showcases distinct late-1920s hairstyles, including finger-waved bobs and tight curls, reflecting the popular flapper aesthetics adapted for big top showmanship.
The Backstage Lot: Posed in the working backstage area directly against the heavy, weather-worn canvas sidewall of the tent, with tension ropes, wooden stakes, and folded wardrobe coats resting on the grass at their feet.
Specifications:
Format: Antique silver gelatin glass plate original camera negative.
Archive Ephemera Included: Accompanied by the original vintage newspaper filing sleeve dated May 27, 1928.
Please Note: This listing is for the single (1) antique physical glass plate negative and its original inscribed filing envelope only. Any positive photographic images shown in this listing are modern inverted digital scans provided solely as a visual reference to demonstrate how the negative prints. No physical paper photograph, modern print, or reproduction print is included.
Condition:
Very Good antique condition. The heavy glass plate is structurally intact and sound with no cracks, chips, or hairline fractures. The gelatin silver emulsion is remarkably clean, rich, and sharp, capturing crisp textural definition across the performers\' sequined costumes, fringed sashes, and hairstyles. Displays authentic, honest period darkroom handling frilling along the extreme outer edges well away from the central figures. Accompanied by the original 1928 newsroom 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)
