James B. "Jim" Donnelly, 3rd Base, Washington Nationals, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 1880s baseball with this petite albumen photograph from Goodwin & Company's iconic Old Judge series (N), produced as inserts for Old Judge Cigarettes.itled *James B. "Jim" Donnelly, 3rd, Washington Nationals*, it captures the poised portrait of Jim Donnelly, a skilled third baseman for the Nationals—one of the era's professional teams. At just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, this ephemera card was designed for collectors, blending sharp photography with promotional flair. In 1887, baseball was exploding as America's pastime, and cigarette companies like Goodwin & Company fueled the frenzy by distributing over 500 player cards in the Old Judge series. These affordable inserts immortalized athletes, boosting the sport's popularity and sparking the hobby of card collecting. Donnelly's image exemplifies early sports celebrity culture, showcasing uniformed players in formal poses that highlighted their prowess. Printed via the albumen process—the gold standard for 19th-century photography—these cards delivered remarkable detail and rich sepia tones on thin paper stock. Donated as part of The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, this piece preserves a slice of Gilded Age Americana, where tobacco marketing met athletic heroism. A tiny treasure revealing big cultural shifts!

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...