Peter W. Webber, Pitcher, Sioux City Corn Huskers, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century baseball with this petite albumen photograph from 1889, featuring Peter W. Webber, the pitcher for the Sioux City Huskers. Produced by Goodwin & Company as part of their iconic Old Judge series (N172tiny trading cards tucked into cigarette packs—this 2 11/16 x 1 3/8-inch portrait captures Webber in a poised, athletic stance, embodying the grit and grace of early professional sports. Albumen prints, made by coating paper with egg whites and silver salts, were the gold standard for sharp, luminous photography in the era, allowing mass production of th...

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...