Alexander "Colonel" Ferson, Pitcher, Washington Nationals, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the golden age of baseball with this diminutive yet captivating albumen photograph from 1889: a portrait of Alexander "Colonel Ferson, ace pitcher for the Washington Nationals. Produced by Goodwin & Company as part of their iconic Old Judge series (N172 this card captures Ferson in a formal pose, emblematic of the era's emerging sports heroes. Measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, it was designed as an affordable insert in Old Judge Cigarette packs, sparking one of America's first collecting frenzies. The Old Judge series, issued between 1887 and 1890, revolutionized ephemera by featuring over 2,000 photographic portraits of baseball players—the most comprehensive visual record of the professional game at the time. Albumen prints, made by coating paper with egg whites and silver salts, delivered sharp details and warm tones ideal for these tiny formats, blending photography's precision with mass production. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this card highlights baseball's cultural ascent in post-Civil War America, where the sport united fans across classes. A charming artifact of 19th-century fandom, it reminds us how everyday tobacco premiums preserved athletic legends for posterity.

About the Artist

Goodwin & Company · 1850–1950

**Goodwin & Company (ca. 1850–1950)** Goodwin & Company, originally established as E. Goodwin and Brother before the American Civil War, emerged as a prominent New York City-based tobacco manufacturer in the mid-19th century. Operating from the bustling heart of Manhattan, the firm built its reputation on popular cigarette brands such as Gypsy Queen and, most notably, Old Judge, which became syno...