Bull Terrier, from the Dogs of the World series for Old Judge Cigarettes
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
sheet: 1 1/2 x 2 13/16 in. (3.8 x 7.1 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ephemera
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, Gift of Jefferson R. Burdick
Accession Number
63.350.214.163.46
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the whimsical world of 19th-century advertising with *Bull Terrier, from the Dogs of the World for Old Judge Cigarettes*, produced by Goodwin & Company in1890. This petite commercial color lithograph, measuring just 1 1/2 x 2 13/16 inches, captures the alert, muscular form of the bull terrier—a breed celebrated for its tenacity and loyalty. Part of a popular series issued with cigarette packs, these cards turned everyday tobacco products into collectible treasures, sparking a craze among enthusiasts eager to assemble global dog portraits. Chromolithography, the era's cutting-edge technique, brought vibrant hues and fine details to life through multiple stone plates, making high-quality color images affordable for mass production. As ephemera—intended as disposable inserts—these prints were ingenious marketing tools, blending education on dog breeds with brand promotion during a time when smoking was a fashionable pastime. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this card highlights the cultural allure of dogs in Victorian society and the artistry of commercial design. A tiny window into Gilded Age collecting, it reminds us how everyday objects can preserve history's playful spirit.
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...