Jacob Schaefer, Jr., Billiards, from the Goodwin Champion series for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century American advertising with *Jacob Schaefer, Jr., Billiards*, a charming commercial color lithograph from & Company's Goodwin Champion series, produced in 1888 for Old and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes. This tiny gem (just 2 5/8 x 1 1/2 inches) captures the profile of billiards champion Jacob Schaefer, Jr., one of the era's sporting luminaries. Inserted into cigarette packs as collectible cards, these ephemera were all the rage, turning everyday smokes into treasures for enthusiasts trading portraits of athletes, actors, and heroes. Chromolithography, the innovative color printing technique used here, allowed for bold, eye-catching hues on a mass scale—perfect for grabbing attention amid fierce tobacco competition. Goodwin & Company excelled in such series, producing thousands of cards that celebrated American pastimes like billiards, a gentleman's game blending skill and strategy, popular in saloons and clubs. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of printed ephemera gifted by the avid collector—this print offers a window into Gilded Age culture, where sports icons endorsed products and fueled a burgeoning collector's market. A delightful snapshot of leisure and commerce!

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...