Quaker Lady (Houstonia caerulea), from the Flowers series for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Behold the delicate *Quaker Lady (Houston caerulea)*, a charming chromolithograph from the *Flowers* series produced by Goodwin & Company and George S. Harris & in 1890. This petite print (just 2¾ x 1½ inches) captures the tiny, star-shaped blue blossoms and fresh green leaves of the Houstonia caerulea, a wildflower native to eastern North America, also known as the Quaker or innocence flower for its modest charm. Rendered in vibrant commercial color lithography, it exemplifies the era's mastery of this technique, which allowed for mass production of vivid, multi-layered hues from stone plates—perfect for affordable, eye-catching inserts. In the late 19th century, amid the booming American tobacco trade, companies like Goodwin & Co., makers of Old Judge Cigarettes, popularized collectible cards as marketing incentives. These "cigarette cards" sparked a collecting frenzy, educating the public on botany while promoting brands. Classified as ephemera in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this piece hails from The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, a treasure trove of over 30,000 American prints gifted in 1948. It offers a glimpse into Victorian-era consumer culture, where everyday luxuries intertwined art, science, and commerce.

About the Artist

Goodwin & Company|George S. Harris & Sons · 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...