Elton P. "Ice Box" Chamberlain, Pitcher, St. Louis Browns, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This baseball card, featuring Elton P. "Ice Box" Chamberlain of the St. Louis Browns, was printed by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes around 1888. It’s a chromolithograph, meaning it was made with a series of lithographic stones, each applying a different color to create the final image. The card’s sepia tone has a depth that arises from the layering of inks, with the texture of the paper adding to the overall effect. The act of mass-producing these cards speaks volumes about the late 19th-century's burgeoning consumer culture. They were essentially premiums, incentives for purchasing cigarettes, and were part of a broader promotional strategy that linked leisure activities with tobacco consumption. This card isn’t just a piece of baseball memorabilia; it's a token of a time when sports, advertising, and everyday life were increasingly intertwined, reflecting the changing dynamics of labor and leisure in a rapidly industrializing society. It's a great example of how design and craft were deployed to promote consumption.