Sadie Martinot, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge and Dog's Head Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century celebrity culture with this petite albumen photograph of actress Sadie Martinot, part of Goodwin & Company's *Actors and Actresses* series (N171) Old Judge and Dog's Cigarettes, produced between 1886 and 1890. Tucked into cigarette packs as promotional inserts, these cards captured the of theater stars, turning smokers into avid collectors. Sadie, a popular figure in burlesque and comedy, gazes confidently here, embodying the era's fascination with glamorous performers. Printed on a tiny sheet measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, this albumen photograph showcases the medium's signature warm tones and sharp detail, a hallmark of the wet-collodion process that dominated commercial photography. Goodwin & Company, a leading tobacco firm, issued thousands of such cards, blending artistry with marketing to fuel a collecting craze among fans of all ages. Today, housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this ephemera highlights Gilded Age advertising ingenuity and women's rising visibility in entertainment. It reminds us how fleeting trade cards preserved enduring portraits of cultural icons, bridging theater history and consumer culture.

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...