Pole Vaulting, from the Games and Sports series (N165) for Old Judge Cigarettes
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
sheet: 1 1/2 x 2 3/4 in. (3.8 x 7 cm)
Classification
Prints|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
63.350.214.165.33
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 19th-century ephemera with *Pole Vaulting* from Goodwin & Company's *Games and Sports* series (N165), produced in 1889 for Old Judge Cig. This petite commercial color lithograph, just 1 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches, captures a dynamic moment of a female athlete mid-vault, her form poised with determination. Issued as collectible inserts in cigarette packs, these cards were a clever marketing ploy that turned everyday smokers into enthusiasts of sports and leisure. Chromolithography, the era's breakthrough in affordable color printing, brought this scene to life with bold ...
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...