Alexander "Colonel" Ferson, Pitcher, Washington Nationals, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes
Medium
Albumen photograph
Dimensions
sheet: 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 in. (6.9 x 3.5 cm)
Classification
Photographs|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
63.350.214.172.1034
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the golden age of baseball with this diminutive yet captivating albumen photograph from 1889: a portrait of Alexander "Colonel Ferson, ace pitcher for the Washington Nationals. Produced by Goodwin & Company as part of their iconic Old Judge series (N172 this card captures Ferson in a formal pose, emblematic of the era's emerging sports heroes. Measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, it was designed as an affordable insert in Old Judge Cigarette packs, sparking one of America's first collecting frenzies. The Old Judge series, issued between 1887 and 1890, revolutionized ephemera by fe...
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...