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

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century American pastimes with *Roller Skating*, a charming chromolithograph from Goodwin & Company's *Games and Sports* series (N165) for Old Cigarettes, produced in 1889. This petite card, measuring just 1 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches, captures the thrill of roller skating—a booming recreational craze in the Gilded Age, when rinks sprang up in cities and parks, drawing men and women alike as athletes and socialites. Printed as a promotional insert in cigarette packs, the card exemplifies commercial color lithography, a revolutionary technique that allowed mass production of vivid, multi-hued images on thin paper stock. Goodwin & Company, a leading tobacco firm, issued these collectible "trade cards" to entice buyers and foster a booming hobby among enthusiasts, who traded and albumed them like modern trading cards. The artwork likely features dynamic portraits of male and female skaters in action, blending portraiture with sports imagery to celebrate athleticism and leisure. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection—a treasure trove of ephemera gifted in 1948—this piece highlights how everyday commerce fueled popular culture. It offers a snapshot of evolving gender roles in sports and the artistry of advertising, reminding us how tiny prints preserved big moments in history.

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...