Dimensions: sheet: 2 5/8 x 1 1/2 in. (6.6 x 3.8 cm)
Copyright: Public Domain
This is "Charles Wood, Jockey," a chromolithograph card distributed by Goodwin & Company as part of their "Goodwin Champions" series for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes. Made in the United States sometime between 1880 and 1910, it portrays the English jockey Charles Wood against the backdrop of the Union Jack, turning Wood into a commodity to be consumed. During this era, trade cards like these were inserted into cigarette packs to boost sales, reflecting the growing advertising culture and consumerism. The series celebrated athletes, actors, and other public figures, reinforcing prevailing social values and ideals of success through portraiture and recognizable symbols. To fully appreciate this card's place in history, we might consult advertising archives, sporting records, and social histories to deepen our understanding of its cultural significance and complex institutional relationships.
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