Coasting, from the Games and Sports series (N165) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the lively world of late 19th-century American ephemera with *Coasting*, a charming chromolithograph from Goodwin & Company's *Games and Sports series (165)*, produced in 1889 for Old Judge Cigarettes. This tiny card, measuring just 1 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches, captures women joyfully sledding down snowy hill, their skirts billowing in the winter breeze. Issued as promotional inserts in cigarette packs, these cards were collectibles that turned everyday tobacco purchases into a treasure hunt for enthusiasts. Chromolithography, the medium here, was a breakthrough in commercial printing, allowing vibrant, multi-color images to be mass-produced affordably. Goodwin & Company, a leading tobacco firm, leveraged this technique to create vivid scenes of leisure activities, blending advertising with popular culture. The focus on women coasting reflects the era's growing visibility of female participation in outdoor sports, challenging Victorian norms of propriety. Today, preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of printed ephemera—this card highlights how everyday objects became art. It offers a glimpse into Gilded Age pastimes, reminding us how advertising once fueled our fascinations. (198 words)

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...