James "Jim" M. Banning, Catcher, Washington Nationals, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century baseball with this charming albumen photograph from the Judge series (N172 produced by Goodwin & Company 1889. Titled *James "Jim" M. Banning, Catcher Washington Nationals*, it features poised portrait of the athlete, captured in the small format of 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches—perfectly sized for insertion into Old Judge Cigarette packs. These cards were ingenious marketing tools, blending sports heroism with tobacco promotion during baseball's explosive rise as America's pastime. The albumen printing process, a hallmark of the era, lent these ephemera a...

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...