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1933 Boston Station Demolition Custom House Tower Ruins Glass Negatives (2) OOAK
Pair of original, one-of-a-kind (OOAK) camera-original antique 4x5 gelatin silver glass plate negatives captured in May 1933: a compelling urban architectural and documentary sequence: the structural demolition of a downtown Boston station facility, showing deep rubble ruins framed by delivery trucks on the cobblestones and the iconic Custom House Tower soaring above the skyline.
Accompanied by its original vintage tan kraft darkroom morgue filing sleeve:
Historical & Architectural Content:
During the early 1930s, the infrastructure of central Boston underwent major transformations as older transit and municipal structures were dismantled to widen thoroughfares, modernize city services, and eliminate aging 19th-century facilities. These evocative exposures document the systematic dismantling of a substantial brick-and-timber municipal station facility in the heart of downtown Boston, captured just as demolition crews leveled the upper stories into open brick heaps.
Captured with razor-sharp documentary clarity by Boston Herald-Traveler staff photojournalist Leslie Jones:
Plate 1 — High-Angle Rooftop Survey & Custom House Tower: An expansive view looking across the leveled roof and foundation walls into the street below. Commercial delivery box trucks, early 1930s coupés, and pedestrians move along the granite curbs, while the iconic pyramid peak and clock face of the 496-foot Custom House Tower rise prominently against the skyline.
Plate 2 — The Demolition Cavity & Historic Cupola: A dramatic low-angle perspective looking across an immense mound of hand-struck salvage bricks, splintered lath, and sheared iron bracing. Standing boldly behind the hollow brick shell is the classical columned belfry, clock face, and dome of a historic downtown Boston landmark building.
Specifications:
Format: Pair of two (2) heavy antique silver gelatin 4x5 glass plate negatives, exposed directly in a press camera in May 1933.
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, breaks, or fractures through the glass. The silver gelatin emulsions are exceptionally clean, sharp, and stable throughout, capturing brilliant contrast across the masonry texture, window mullions, and architectural skyline. Displays only minor authentic edge silvering and faint handling wear 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)
