Burdock, 2nd Base, Boston, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

Editor: This is "Burdock, 2nd Base, Boston," a baseball card from the "Old Judge Cigarettes" series, created by Goodwin & Company in 1887. It's fascinating to see photography used this way. It feels very staged but charmingly earnest at the same time. What captures your attention most about this particular piece? Curator: Ah, baseball and cigarettes, a match made in the late 19th century! What tickles me is how it captures a specific moment in cultural history, really. This card, mass-produced as a collectible, elevated an everyday athlete to a mini-celebrity. Imagine collecting these! But there’s something more intimate, almost melancholic, in his gaze, don't you think? Like he’s pondering the fleeting nature of fame, even as he palms that baseball. Editor: Melancholic...that's interesting, I hadn't considered that. I saw him more as poised, ready for action, even. Do you think the artist, or rather the photographer, intended to convey that sentiment? Curator: Intention, darling, is a slippery fish to grab! More likely, the photographer aimed to capture a strong, marketable image. But time whispers its own stories into these artifacts. The sepia tone, the stiff pose – they speak to us now of a bygone era, imbuing the image with a sense of nostalgia we project onto it. A modern feeling grafted onto an old photo. See what I mean? Editor: That makes sense. So, it’s not just about what the photographer *put* into it, but what time *adds* to it? Curator: Precisely! These little cards aren't just snapshots; they're time capsules with sepia-toned dreams inside. Each time you look you will think a little differently I reckon! Editor: Well, I'll definitely be thinking about fleeting fame and sepia-toned dreams the next time I see a baseball card!