Tucker, 1st Base, Baltimore Orioles, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This small card depicting Tucker, first base for the Baltimore Orioles, was made around 1888 by Goodwin & Company. It’s a photographic print, likely made using an albumen process, on a paper card, originally included in packs of Old Judge Cigarettes. The choice of photography is particularly interesting. It's a new medium at the time, and it’s being used here not for high art, but for mass-produced ephemera. The photograph is sepia toned, giving it a warmth that contrasts with the cold industrial processes that enabled its production. You can see the way that commercial culture in the late 19th century was fueled by new image technologies and consumerism. The card is small, almost disposable, yet it captures a moment in time, a specific player, a specific brand. It’s a reminder that even the most mass-produced objects can have a unique story to tell about labor, leisure, and the culture of consumption. It really makes you think about how we value objects and the stories they carry.