Jake Kilrain, from the Celebrities and Prizefighters series (N174) for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes
1887–88
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
63.350.215.174.11
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the gritty world of 19th-century prizefighting with this petite albumen photograph of Jake Kilrain, produced Goodwin & Company with photography by J. Wood around 1887–88. Part of the "Celebrities Prizefighters" (N174) for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes, card captures the rugged boxer in a straightforward portrait, embodying the era's fascination with tough, larger-than-life athletes. At just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, it was designed as collectible ephemera—ucked into cigarette packs to entice smokers and spark trading among fans. Kilrain, a heavyweight contender known for his bare-knuckle pro...
About the Artist
Goodwin & Company|J. Wood · 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...