Postwar Berlin Soviet Embassy Unter den Linden build 1949 - Original Press Photo

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Postwar Berlin Soviet Embassy Unter den Linden build 1949 - Original Press Photo:
$55.00

An original (not modern reprint) 6.5x9" vintage photo from a rare archive of post war / Cold War Berlin press photographs that we acquired from an sale house in Berlin. This photo is from perhaps the most fascinating collection of press photos we have ever had the pleasure to deal with. Professionally packaged in a rigid mailer for safe delivery.

Photo Overview

Postwar Berlin Soviet Embassy construction on Unter den Linden in the Russian sector, showing scaffolding wrapped around the rising multi story complex, portal cranes at work, and trucks and workers bustling around temporary wooden sheds as the replacement for the wartime destroyed Soviet Embassy nears completion in 1949.

The new Soviet Embassy on Unter den Linden became one of the first monumental Stalinist buildings in postwar East Berlin and a showcase of Soviet power in the emerging Cold War capital. Built on the site of the original embassy destroyed in the American bombing raid of 1943, it opened in 1952 and stood prominently on the main ceremonial boulevard of East Berlin for state visits and parades. Historically important Cold War Berlin construction photos like this are scarce in private hands, so secure this striking original while it is still available.

Text Present

Back side - purple typed caption on brown paper strip:
"RUSSIAN BUILD NEW EMBASSY
BERLIN: SOVIET AUTHORITIES IN BERLIN ARE
RUSHING CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE NEW RUSSIAN
EMBASSY ON THE SITE OF THE OLD ONE DESTROYED
BY AN AMERICAN BOMBING RAID IN 1943. ABOVE,
THE STRUCTURE, SITUATED IN THE HIGH CLASS
UNTER DEN LINDEN (RUSSIAN SECTOR), IS MORE
THAN HALF COMPLETED:
NY 4-2-3 9/5/49 (ES)"

Back side - large grey rubber stamp (angled):
"ACME NEWSPICTURES
... (Division of N.E.A. Service, Inc., NEW YORK CITY)
... please credit 'Acme Photo'
THIS PICTURE IS SOLD TO YOU FOR YOUR PUBLICATION ONLY AND MUST NOT BE LOANED
SYNDICATED OR USED FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM ACME
NEWPICTURES. BY ACCEPTING THIS PICTURE YOU AGREE TO INDEMNIFY ACME NEWPICTURES
FROM ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE ARISING BY REASON OF YOUR USE OR PUBLICATION OF THIS PICTURE"

Print analysis:
The Acme Newspictures agency stamp, typed editorial caption with a 9/5/49 date, and the glossy fiber based paper indicate this is a period press photograph made for newspaper use. The dating on the caption matches the event shown (reconstruction of the Soviet Embassy in 1949), and nothing suggests a later re strike. This is best classified as a Type 1 original press photo, printed in 1949 from the original negative.

Condition: Photo is in good to excellent vintage condition. Please see images for exact details.