William H. "Yank" Robinson, Shortstop, St. Louis Browns, 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
63.350.215.172.1560
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the early days of America's pastime with this petite albumen photograph from 1886, featuring William H. "Yank" Robinson, the agile shortstop for the St Louis Browns. Produced by Goodwin & Company as part of their renowned Old Judge series (N), this card captures Robinson in a formal portrait pose, emblematic of 19th-century athletic iconography. Measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches, it was designed as an insert in Old Judge Cigarette packs, blending tobacco marketing with the rising fervor for professional baseball. Albumen prints, made by coating paper with egg whites and light-se...
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...