Brief Description:
Authentic Original One-of-a-Kind (OOAK) Real Sepia Photo of 1923 Lambert-STL National Air Races Huge Black Biplane with much smaller Biplane dwarfed in front of it, with crew standing under larger plane, next to original hangars
This is the first time this photo has been seen by and made available to the public.
Authentication Documents Included with Order:
- Umbrella authentication of full collection, including this image, is provided by email and text messages from the photographer's surviving son, Russell Froelich, Jr.
- This original photo has been out of the public domain until now and originated as part of the same private estate collection that other images have been authenticated from by PSA/DNA.
- The photo is NOT SIGNED.
Dimensions: 4-1/4 x 2-1/2 in.
Condition:
- Pre-owned, originally affixed with double-stick tape squares into the photographer's scrapbook. We removed the tape and its residue with artist's solvent. Reverse side of print has remnants of black illustration paper where previously taped. Image is in Excellent Condition with no significant flaws.
- Useful for Framing, Archiving, Display or Scanning for Resale.
- Free of Copyright History - Buyer Takes Full Ownership.
No Returns:
Since this is a photograph which can be scanned in high resolution for resale, repurposing or distribution online, the original is not returnable. For this reason, you are encouraged to be a serious buyer: thoroughly read the description, do your due diligence to fully read the description, view the images, consult with experts or friends.
Shipping: This photograph will be properly packaged and shipped via Tracked First Class Mail.
Payment Grace Period:
We are more flexible than most sellers, allowing a 2-week grace period before canceling for non-payment. However, if buyer needs more time (e.g. for corporate or organizational net-30 A/P policies), we can accommodate.
Photographer Bio:
Russell Froelich, Sr. (1890–1958) was a pioneer of both early aviation and aerial photography who took thousands of lasting images of the St. Louis region for the city’s newspaper outlets from 1911 to the 1950s, helped the war effort in WWI with aerial mapping, was a color photography innovator and even invented a monoplane.
In his twenties, he began both designing and helping to build airplanes with early local flyers, such as Tom Benoist of the Benoist Aircraft Company, leading to the role as official photographer for the manufacturer.
American entry into WWI led Froelich to put his talents and skills to wartime use. He began taking aerial photographs from wing-mounted cameras that he improvised to fit given situations and flight conditions, helping the US Army Signal Corps develop terrain maps of Europe.
After the War, Froelich worked as a beat photographer for St. Louis newspapers, including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, and the St. Louis Star. He eventually managed the photography team which gave him access to a wide range of subject matter and the ability to experiment with action photography and the evolution of color techniques.