Western Air Lines Lockheed Lodestar NC25638 Indian Chieftain 8x10 Repro Photo For Sale

Western Air Lines Lockheed Lodestar NC25638 Indian Chieftain 8x10 Repro PhotoReproduction Print, Early Indian Head Chieftain Livery, Boarding Scene, Mountain Backdrop
ITEM SPECIFICS:Original/Reproduction: ReproductionSubject: Aviation, Commercial Airline HistoryAircraft Type: Lockheed Model 18 LodestarAirline/Operator: Western Air LinesRegistration: NC25638Subject Year: 1942 (subject; print is later)Size: 8 x 10 inColor: Black & WhiteCountry: United States
DESCRIPTION:
Vintage reproduction photographic print of a Western Air Lines Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar, registration NC25638.
This is a later archival reprint of a 1940s Lockheed publicity image, not an original period press photo, and it is priced and listed as a reproduction. I would rather tell you that up front than dress it up as something it isn't.
The Lodestar was Lockheed's stretched, 14-passenger development of the Model 14 Super Electra, built to compete with the Douglas DC-3. Western Air Lines flew the type across its western US route network in the early 1940s.
This image shows NC25638 on a ramp with a mountain backdrop, captured in a boarding scene: a woman in a hat and dress approaches the airstair, with two men in suits and a ramp worker nearby. The nose carries Western's early Indian head "Chieftain" logo with partial "...TERN" fuselage lettering, the pre-jet-age branding that predates Western's better-known 1959 Chieftain livery and is a specifically collected piece of the airline's visual history.
The print measures 8 x 10 inches, black and white, glossy. The reverse carries a red rubber archive caption stamp reading "LOCKHEED LODESTER (1942)," a period-style misspelling of Lodestar; the 1942 date refers to the subject, not the printing. The stamp ink shows through faintly to the front lower right as a reversed mirror image. The verso is otherwise clean and bright with no agency stamps, captions, or handwriting.
What you are buying: a clean, sharp, display-ready reproduction of a desirable early Western Air Lines Lodestar image, honestly described as a reprint. If you want a guaranteed period original, this is not that, and I am not going to pretend otherwise.
Condition: Vintage 8 x 10 inch black and white glossy photographic print. The image is clean and sharp with good contrast. The reverse carries a red rubber archive caption stamp reading "LOCKHEED LODESTER (1942)" (period-style misspelling of Lodestar; the 1942 date refers to the subject).
The stamp ink shows through faintly to the front lower right as a reversed mirror image. The verso is otherwise clean and bright with no other writing, agency stamps, or captions. Edges and corners are intact with light handling only.
This is an archival/reproduction print of a Lockheed publicity image, not a period original.Please review all photos and judge the paper stock for yourself.