Gamble, Pitcher, Philadelphia Athletics, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This photographic print of "Gamble, Pitcher, Philadelphia Athletics" was produced by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. The sepia-toned albumen print, created from a glass negative, speaks volumes about the burgeoning culture of celebrity and consumption in the late 19th century. Think about the labour involved. From the harvesting of tobacco, to the darkroom alchemy required to produce these images, to the industrial processes that churned out the cigarettes themselves. It's all captured in this little card. The choice of albumen, derived from egg whites, as a key ingredient in the printing process, lends a subtle gloss to the surface, enhancing the detail of Gamble's athletic stance. More than just a portrait, the card functioned as a promotional item slipped into cigarette packs. This speaks to the intertwined relationship between commerce, leisure, and identity, a relationship that only deepened as industrial capitalism took hold. The print is a fascinating artifact, revealing the material processes and social context that shaped both the image and its reception.