Willard Eben Mains, Pitcher, St. Paul Apostles, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This photograph of Willard Eben Mains, a pitcher for the St. Paul Apostles, was made by Goodwin & Company to promote Old Judge Cigarettes. A seemingly simple paper print, its production actually tells us a lot about industry in the late 19th century. Photographs like this one were originally produced as albumen prints using glass plate negatives. It was a complex chemical process, requiring great skill. The material support of the paper is key too: very thin, and easily inserted into a cigarette pack. Just imagine the number of prints that had to be made to include one in every pack! That suggests factories running at full tilt, and an ample supply of cheap labor. So next time you see a humble baseball card, remember the unseen network of production that made its existence possible, blurring the lines between fine art, commercial photography, and industrial manufacturing.