Ceiss, Pitcher, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century baseball with this tiny treasure: an 1887 albumen photograph titled *Ceiss, Pitcher, Chicago*, from Goodwin & Company's iconic Old Judge series (N). Produced as promotional inserts for Old Judge and Gypsy Cigarettes, this pocket-sized portrait (just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches) captures the stern gaze of Ceiss, a pitcher for the Chicago team, the sport's explosive rise in popularity during baseball's formative professional era. Albumen prints, the medium here, were the gold standard of photography in the 1880s, using egg whites to bind light-sensitive silver salts onto paper for sharp, luminous details that brought subjects to life. These ephemera cards weren't just collectibles—they fueled America's trading card craze, blending tobacco marketing with hero worship of early athletes. Goodwin & Company issued thousands in the series, making stars out of players like Ceiss and preserving a snapshot of Gilded Age sports culture. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece highlights how everyday objects documented cultural icons, bridging art, commerce, and pastime in a pre-digital age. A delightful glimpse into baseball's humble, hazy origins!

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...