James Augustus "Jim" Donahue, Catcher, Kansas City Cowboys, 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
63.350.215.172.1299
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the bustling world of 1880s America with this petite albumen photograph from Goodwin & Company's *Old Judge series (N172), a promotional card featuring James Augustus "Jim" Donue, the skilled catcher for the Kansas Cowboys baseball team. Produced in 1888, this 2 11/16 x 1 3/8-inch gem captures Donahue in a classic pose, emblematic of the era's growing obsession with professional sports. Tobacco companies like Goodwin cleverly tucked these cards into Old Judge Cigarette packs turning everyday smokers into collectors and fueling baseball's popularity during its formative professional y...
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...