Morrill, 1st Base, Boston, from the Gold Coin series (N284) for Gold Coin Chewing Tobacco

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 1880s America with *Morrill, 1st Base, Boston*, pocket-sized gem from the Gold Coin seriesN284), produced by D. Buch & Co. in New York. This commercial color lithograph captures Boston's first baseman Morrill in action, embodying the rising star power of professional baseball during its explosive early years. Tobacco companies like Gold Coin Chewing Tobacco cleverly inserted these cards into product packages, turning everyday purchases into collectibles and fueling America's burgeoning sports fandom. Printed in 1887 as a reproduction of an original drawing, the work showcases chromolithography—a revolutionary technique that allowed for vivid, multi-color images on a tiny scale (just 3 1/16 x 1 3/4 inches). This ephemera bridged fine art printing with mass-market advertising, making heroic athletes accessible to the public and foreshadowing modern trading cards. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, thanks to the Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece highlights how commerce and culture intertwined. It reminds us of baseball's roots as a national pastime and the artistry behind everyday promotions.

About the Artist

D. Buchner & Co., New York · 1850–1900

D. Buchner & Co. was a New York-based tobacco manufacturer prominent in the American market during the 1880s, best known today for its Gold Coin Chewing Tobacco brand and the vivid trade cards the company inserted into its product packaging to drive consumer loyalty. The firm was one of numerous tobacco companies that, during the boom years of American commercial printing, recognized the marketing...