William Henry "Bill" Holbert, Catcher, New York Metropolitans, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This small card, made by Goodwin & Company in the late 1880s, features William Henry "Bill" Holbert, catcher for the New York Metropolitans. It's from the Old Judge series, produced as promotional material for Old Judge Cigarettes. The image is a photograph, likely mass-produced using industrial printing techniques. The sepia tone suggests a process involving chemical development, a far cry from painting or sculpture. The card stock itself, though humble, represents the rise of consumer culture and mass media. Consider the image’s purpose: not art for art's sake, but rather a collectible incentive, linking baseball, smoking, and celebrity in the burgeoning world of advertising. Its value lies not in artistic skill, but in its ability to circulate and promote a product. It challenges our traditional notions of art, reminding us that meaning is often found in the everyday objects that shape our culture.