5 Rare Photos of the Airship USS Los Angeles ZR-3 (Ghost Photo) Lakehurst NJ

Description: Hi, Why buy from me? Not only do I offer you a nice collectable that I researched for you, I kind of know what I am talking about! My Ref-A-a Items 5 Original and Vintage 3 1/4" X 5 1/2" BW Glossy Photos of the USS Los Angeles Airship ZR-3 Lakehurst NJ with one that has a very unusual "Ghosting" effect. All five are in great shape with no majors tears or folds. One photo has a very small piece torn off of the bottom. You can see it clearly in the photos and the one closeup. It does not distract from the photo itself. Description and History:The USS Los Angeles ZR-3 was built in Friedrichshafen, Germany between 1923-1924. It was built out of reparations to the U.S. for WWI and I am sure that no one complained about this deal on either side. The builders were happy to build it and had a job as well as the US Navy received a nice big toy to play with. Built in the same factory as the Hindenburg and the Graf Zeppelins, it was the only US Navy Airship to look similar to the Graf Zeppelin LZ-127 which shared the same basic gondola design. The airships built in the states, like the USS Shenandoah had its own unique gondola, but odd design, and the Macon and Akron shared similar gondola designs. When you look at these five photos, it is almost impossible to tell which airship it might be but place it under a digital microscope like I did and it will reveal itself. First, you can see the gondolas shape which looks like a perfect match for the Graf Zeppelin LZ-127. Not even the Graf Zeppelin LZ-130 had a similar gondola. In the photo with the ghosting effect, you can see the gondolas windows. I also took of photo of this under the microscope for you. The next item that stands out is the airship insignia. It is behind the last engine visible and before the tail cone. It is round and in the same shape as the US Navy's aircraft insignia which has a red disc inside a five-pointed white star on a circular blue field and that leads us to the rear fins, which have the US Navy's aircraft three vertical stripes, blue, white and red. No, you can't see the colors but you get the idea. I attached a blown up photo of these so you can see for yourself. What caught my attention was the one photo's ghosting affect. It makes a perfect backdrop for this airship. I don't think the photographer meant to do that but I am sure he/she was very happy with the results! It is very hard to date photographs like these but based on the film size and type, I would venture to say from 1925-1930. If anyone has any other thoughts, please let me know.The USS Los Angeles is the only US Navy Airship that didn't meet a disastrous end. It led a relatively uneventful life with the exception of the famous handstand it did in 1927. One other notation, the Graf Zeppelin LZ-127 and the USS Los Angeles were built in the same factories and of similar design. Both were scrapped in the end but just maybe, those were the only two built to last. It was decommissioned in 1932 but was refurbished after the USS Akron crashed in 1933, ultimately being scrapped in 1939.Single photos of the USS Los Angeles are becoming scarce but multiples are almost non existent. I searched the internet and eBay and could only find one example of a regular photograph for sale. There were no multiple photo lots. The one single original photo I found for sale was at $19.95. New copies are offered between $5.00 and $10.00 each.I am including a nice copy of my 1940s New York Aviation Sectional Chart showing Lakehurst Naval Air Station section of the map printed on high quality paper (about 7 1/2" X 11") with this sale as a bonus item. It's hard to find a sectional like this showing Lakehurst in it's early years. This one is post WWII. I used the original chart as the backdrop in this listing. Shipping- eBay is offering a shipping discount and I am passing the savings along to you.I just won't stick these photos into a couple of soft sleeves and into an envelope and risk any type of damage as they are irreplaceable. Each one has been placed into a brand new Rigid BCW Archival Postcard sleeve. They will then be placed between some rigid archival safe materials and mailed in a rigid oversized 9x12 photo mailer to prevent any type of bending. This cost me a few dollars up-front. I offer two shipping methods, USPS Ground with Tracking for $8.99 (regularly $10.49) and USPS Priority with Tracking for $13.99 (regularly $15.49) You choose at checkout. This price includes all of the shipping materials at cost. I do not try to profit from shipping, I only try to break even. I take my shipping seriously. If you have ever purchased from me in the past, you will know that. Paper goods and photos are sent completely surrounded by acid free archival quality papers and/or acid free PVC free Polypropylene bags and covers. This cost me money that is well spent. I also use a variety of recycled and new packaging including boxes and mailers but your item will arrive well protected regardless. I try not to profit on my shipping. Please do not misinterpret my shipping charges. I take my time when packing anything anyone buys. I don't rush it, but at the same time, I don't overdue it. I hand select packaging materials that will not only protect the items value but will protect it during shipping. By placing a bid or buying it outright, you agree to any method I use to pack your item, new or used shipping material as I see fit. What is the best thing about my packaging? They are easy to open! How many times have you received a package only to spend ten minutes trying to open it without destroying the contents!!! No extra tape, glue, staples, or my worst fear, items shoved between two pieces of cardboard with tape on every edge requiring a surgeon's scalpel to open it!!! This is a newer store for me but I have been on eBay going on over 28 years with 100% feedback. I will be adding many more Zeppelin, Airship and Aviation related photos, postcards and a variety of relics over the next few days, weeks and months. Check back with me every week to see what I have added. Please contact me first with any issues. Thanks for looking!!!

Price: 149.99 USD

Location: Hollywood, Florida

End Time: 2025-01-10T14:03:36.000Z

Shipping Cost: 8.99 USD