W.A. Rowe, Bicyclist, from the Goodwin Champion series for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes 1888

This is a baseball card, Bicyclist, from the Goodwin Champion series for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes. The lithograph presents a man centered on a penny-farthing, a bicycle whose large front wheel dwarfs the rear one. The cyclist's figure is robust, filling the frame with his muscular build. He is attired in a red tank top and shorts, his gaze steady, his mustache adding to his determined demeanor. The background shows an idyllic scene of green grass, and a blue sky dotted with clouds. The composition is balanced with the cyclist and bike taking up most of the space. The curves of the bicycle wheel are juxtaposed against the man's body to give a sensation of movement. This card, beyond its commercial function, captures the late 19th-century fascination with athleticism and technology. It speaks volumes about the cultural values attached to sport and leisure during this period.