William Franklin "Bill" Traffley, Catcher, Des Moines Prohibitionists, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This albumen silver print of William Franklin "Bill" Traffley was created by Goodwin & Company around 1886 as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. It is made out of paper and photographic chemicals. In terms of its materiality, the card's relatively small size speaks to its original purpose: an advertising insert for cigarette packs. But consider how images such as these gained traction in the 1880s. They were produced as collectable cards with baseball players on them, which were distributed in cigarette packs as trade cards. They were designed to be affordable, and the albumen printing process allowed for mass production, reflecting the growing consumer culture of the late 19th century. The company was based in New York, which gives us insight into how the mass production of goods was becoming increasingly centralized in urban areas. This particular card is also an artifact that exists because of the convergence of photography and the rise of consumerism. This is also where the labor of factory workers comes into play. Ultimately, the card is more than just a picture of a baseball player. It represents a key moment in the history of advertising and its intersection with photography, sports, and consumerism.