Sky Terrier, from the Dogs of the World series for Old Judge Cigarettes
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
sheet: 1 1/2 x 2 13/16 in. (3.8 x 7.1 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ephemera
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, Gift of Jefferson R. Burdick
Accession Number
63.350.214.163.38
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the whimsical world of 19th-century advertising with *Sky Terrier*, a charming chromolithograph from Goodwin & Company's *Dogs of the World*, produced in 1890 for Old Judge Cigarettes. tiny treasures, measuring just 1 1/2 x 2 13/16 inches, were tucked into cigarette packs as collectible cards, sparking a craze among enthusiasts. The Sky Terrier, a lively Scottish breed known for its spirited personality, exemplifies the series' global showcase of canine diversity, blending education with promotion in an era when dogs symbolized loyalty and status. Crafted via commercial color lithography—a groundbreaking technique that layered vibrant hues through multiple stone printing plates—these cards achieved stunning realism and affordability for mass production. Goodwin & Company, a leading tobacco firm, mastered this method to captivate smokers, turning everyday vices into portals for armchair exploration of breeds from around the world. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection (a gift from the legendary ephemera collector), *Sky Terrier* highlights the cultural fusion of commerce, art, and pet fandom. It reminds us how fleeting advertising artifacts preserve slices of history, inviting us to appreciate the terrier's alert gaze and the ingenuity behind it.
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...