When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
John Ford 1942 Type 1 Continuous Tone Silver Gelatin Photo Wide World Press OSS:
$97.50
Up for acquisition is an exceptional1942 Type 1 first-generation original continuous-tone darkroom print featuring legendary Hollywood director John Ford, distributed by the premier press agency Wide World Photos.This authentic, period-correct historical artifact carries immense historical and biographical significance. The original typed paper information snipe on the reverse is firmly dated March 12, 1942—a monumental crossroads in Ford’s life. Just two weeks prior, Ford had dominated the 14th Academy Awards, winning Best Director for his masterpiece How Green Was My Valley. Concurrently, Ford was already covertly stepping away from studio elite life to serve his country, operating as a Lieutenant Commander heading the Field Photographic Unit under Colonel William "Wild Bill" Donovan’s Coordinator of Information (COI)—the direct, pre-war precursor network to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).Captured in his absolute creative and military prime, this portrait showcases Ford wearing his signature intellectual round tortoise-shell glasses and a casual sport coat, displaying the fierce, rugged, and intensely focused expression that defined his independent visual style.Archival Variant & Technical Details:The print features an immaculate continuous-tone darkroom rendering processed directly from the master camera negative, preserving complete micro-contrast and grain definition. - Print Generation: Stated Type 1 First-Generation Original Press Print
- Medium & Paper Stock: Glossy single-weight/medium-weight fiber-based silver gelatin paper. Displays the beautiful natural curling, soft cream aging, and rich silver density unique to 1940s darkroom chemistry.
- Verso Authentication: Features the bold, original inked "NOTICE / WIDE WORLD PHOTOS" press syndicate stamp, along with the completely intact, original brown kraft-paper information snipe typed: John Ford / Movie director. / 3-12-42 and hand-marked in pencil Head 3/42.
- Dimensions: Standard 8" x 10" Archive Format
Book Specifications & Identifiers - Subject: John Ford (Born John Martin Feeney)
- Syndicate / Origin: Wide World Photos (The New York Times Company)
- Image & Print Date: March 12, 1942 (COI Intelligence Era)
- Binding / Format: Unbacked 8x10 Glossy Fiber Photographic Plate
- Orientation: Vertical Portrait Layout
- Language: English Descriptive Typography
VISUAL CONDITION REPORTPlease examine the high-resolution copy stand photos carefully to verify the exact physical attributes and condition details of this specific 1942 print: - Print Face & Borders: Very Good to Excellent vintage condition. The continuous-tone silver gelatin emulsion layer retains magnificent mid-tone clarity, deep midnight blacks, and crisp highlight definitions. The white borders are crisp and structurally sound, showing only trace, age-appropriate edge handling and soft corner shelf-wear consistent with library filing, entirely free of severe pinholes, heavy finger-soiling, or modern ink defacement.
- Verso Texture: High archival integrity. The un-coated fiber backing paper has aged to a beautiful, uniform warm cream hue. The original ink syndicate stamp is bold and perfectly legible. The original paper info snipe is included.
PROFESSIONAL PACKAGING & SHIPPING - Professional Art Packaging: Packed securely entirely flat between heavy-duty, double-wall rigid corrugated cardboard structural sheets inside a waterproof layer to completely eliminate the risk of corner bending, puncture damage, or moisture exposure during transit.
- Tracking: Ships with premium fully tracked shipping. Free shipping is included.
|
