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

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century American ephemera with *Football, from the Games and Sports series (N) for Old Judge Cig*, a charming commercial color lithograph produced by Goodwin & Company in1889. Measuring just 1 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches, this petite print captures the growing excitement around football—a sport gaining massive popularity in the U.S. during the Gilded Age. Issued as part of a collectible series by the Old Judge Cigarette brand, it exemplifies how tobacco companies cleverly marketed their products through colorful trading cards tucked inside cigarette packs, sparking a collecting craze among enthusiasts of all ages. Chromolithography, the innovative printing technique used here, allowed for bold, multi-layered colors and fine details on a mass-produced scale, making high-quality images accessible and affordable. This card likely depicts athletes in action, highlighting football's physicality and team spirit at a time when the sport was evolving from its rugby roots into the modern American game. As part of The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, it preserves a slice of everyday culture, revealing how sports intertwined with commerce and leisure in Victorian-era America. Today, this tiny treasure offers a window into the dawn of sports fandom, reminding us how games like football became cultural icons long before stadium spectacles. A delightful nod to nostalgia!

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...