Prince, Bicyclist, from the Goodwin Champion series for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes 1888

This is a trade card of a bicyclist named Prince, produced around 1886 by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes. The high-wheel bicycle behind the athlete is more than mere transport; it's a symbol of modernity and daring. The bicycle's wheel, a visual echo of the sun, evokes ancient solar deities. Consider Apollo's chariot, its circular wheels mirroring the sun's daily journey. The wheel, eternally turning, has long resonated with cyclical concepts of time and fate, and it reappears across cultures as a signifier of progress. Here, it's intertwined with notions of athletic prowess, appealing to a shared, primal admiration for the athlete's strength. It’s a potent symbol, engaging us on a subconscious level, and a testament to the enduring power of archetypes in our collective consciousness.