Burch, Left Field, Brooklyn, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

Curator: This photograph is one of a series, specifically "Burch, Left Field, Brooklyn, from the Old Judge series," dating between 1887 and 1890, produced by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. Editor: Wow, even from this distance, you can feel the energy! He's caught mid-action, a study of form and athletic prowess. The sepia tones add such nostalgia. Curator: Indeed. These cards were essentially trade cards, distributed with tobacco products. The process involved photography, printmaking, and distribution tied directly to a specific commodity. Editor: It's fascinating how ephemera become historical records. What began as a marketing tool transforms into a document reflecting the values—and perhaps the obsessions—of a society. What can you tell me about how it’s produced? Curator: Mass-produced albumin prints were affixed to card stock and then dispersed, tucked into cigarette packs to encourage repeat purchases. These cards weren't meant to be precious; they were meant to be used and, perhaps, discarded. That so many have survived speaks to their inherent collectability. Editor: It's remarkable when you think of how the mundane gets recontextualized in different environments like a museum, gallery, or someone's personal collection. I imagine the act of collecting says so much about how we try to curate personal and cultural stories. Curator: Precisely. The insertion of Burch, the athlete, into this system shows the rise of sports as both spectacle and marketable image. A very strategic marketing decision for their target demographic, in my opinion. Editor: Well, beyond advertising, there's a powerful narrative here too: about a working-class activity becoming canonized and how that, in turn, further promotes visibility and, indeed, normalizes participation within American society. Curator: These "Old Judge" cards underscore the intersections of sport, industry, and culture. This system of production ultimately shaped a particular cultural landscape, one built on consumerism. Editor: Absolutely! The convergence between product advertising and cultural memory here makes the conversation especially insightful. Thank you for sharing those thoughts, and it adds a real complexity to seeing something so seemingly straightforward! Curator: Thank you for offering a look beyond mere materialism!