George La Blanche "The Marine", from the Celebrities and Prizefighters series (N174) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1888

This 1887-1888 photograph from the "Celebrities and Prizefighters" series for Old Judge Cigarettes features George La Blanche, known as "The Marine", a prizefighter of the time. The photograph, made by Goodwin & Company, shows La Blanche shirtless in a fighting pose with his arms crossed. The image is a classic example of a trading card, a collectible item popular during the 19th century. These cards often featured images of famous individuals, sports figures, or historical events, and were given away with tobacco products. This particular card is now part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.