Henry Francis "Hank" O'Day, Pitcher, Washington Nationals, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This photographic print of Henry Francis "Hank" O'Day, a pitcher for the Washington Nationals, comes from the Old Judge series made in 1887 by Goodwin & Company. Produced as an advertisement inserted in cigarette packs, the card exemplifies an early integration of commerce and culture. Note the sepia tones and the sharp clarity of the image, achieved through a carefully controlled chemical process. This was, after all, an industrial operation. The card's dimensions speak to its original context as a collectible commodity, meant to be traded and consumed like the cigarettes themselves. It represents an intersection of sport, celebrity, and consumerism that has only intensified since its making. The image, originally intended as a means to sell tobacco, has now been preserved and repurposed as a valuable artifact, appreciated for both its historical and aesthetic qualities.