Roseman, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

This is "Roseman" from the Old Judge series of baseball cards, made by Goodwin & Company in the late 19th century. These cards weren't conceived as art, but as promotional ephemera; a small piece of cardstock included with Old Judge Cigarettes. The sepia tone and smooth surface is a result of the photographic processes of the time, specifically the use of albumen prints. Creating these images was labor-intensive, involving coating paper with a solution of egg white and then exposing it to a negative. This process yielded a sharp image, ideal for mass production. Consider the wider context: the rise of consumer culture and the commodification of leisure. Baseball cards, like this one, were essentially advertisements, linking the sport with tobacco consumption. But they also became collectible items in their own right, embodying the era’s fascination with celebrity and the burgeoning sports industry. So, in the end, what seems like a simple photograph is actually a window into a complex web of labor, consumption, and cultural values.