Mike Cleary, from the Celebrities and Prizefighters series (N174) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1888

This is "Mike Cleary, from the Celebrities and Prizefighters series (N174) for Old Judge Cigarettes", a nineteenth-century commercial card produced by Goodwin & Company. These cards were originally included in cigarette packs, a marketing strategy that reveals much about the cultural landscape of the time. Consider this image not merely as a portrait of a boxer but as a window into the construction of masculinity and celebrity culture. In an era defined by industrialization and shifting social norms, boxing emerged as a spectacle that embodied ideals of strength and perseverance. The depiction of Cleary serves to promote both him and the cigarette brand and reinforces the notion of the athlete as a figure of aspiration. These cards also coincided with increasing awareness of race and immigration. Boxing was a path to social mobility and the image of an Irish-American boxer taps into notions of ethnic identity and the American Dream. These cards were widely circulated, they shaped perceptions and propagated cultural values, reflecting both the aspirations and the biases of the era.