Chas. Brynan, Pitcher, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

Editor: So, this albumen print is a baseball card from between 1887 and 1890. It’s a portrait of Chas. Brynan, a pitcher for Chicago, produced by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. What strikes me is the action pose; it's a little frozen, a split-second caught in time. It makes me think about those early days of baseball. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: Well, for starters, I see nostalgia, filtered through sepia tones and the hazy lens of history. Can you imagine holding this tiny card, scented faintly of tobacco, dreaming of baseball glory? It's a tangible piece of Americana, isn't it? Goodwin & Co. were quite clever; they linked virility and athleticism, embodied by Brynan, to their cigarettes. Do you think that sort of marketing tactic holds up today? Editor: Hmm, maybe, but differently. The athleticism, sure, but now we’re more conscious of health implications. Still, what’s really fascinating is the shift from posed portraits to these more dynamic shots. Curator: Precisely! It’s not just a baseball card; it's a document of changing sensibilities. The albumen print gives the photograph this wonderful luminosity, don’t you think? And Brynan himself... Look at his determined gaze. Almost feels like you're looking straight into the Gilded Age. Makes you wonder what he was like. Editor: It really does. It bridges a century, and a sport I adore, into a little slip of paper. Definitely gives me something to think about, thanks. Curator: My pleasure. History whispered, indeed. Let's keep listening, shall we?