Annie Boyd, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes
1886–90
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
63.350.215.171.149
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 19th celebrity culture with this petite albumen photograph of actress Annie Boyd, part of Goodwin & Company's *Actors and Actresses* series (N171) Old Judge Cigarettes, between 1886 and 1890. At just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, this card captures Boyd in a poised portrait, emblematic of the era's with theater stars. Goodwin & Company, a leading firm, pioneered these high-quality photo-reproductions on cards inserted into cigarette packs, turning everyday smokers into collectors. These "trade cards" were more than marketing gimmicks; they democratized access to glamo...
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...