James Harding "Hardie" Henderson, Pitcher, Pittsburgh, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This baseball card, featuring James "Hardie" Henderson, a pitcher for Pittsburgh, was made by Goodwin & Company, around the late 19th century. It's from the Old Judge series, produced as promotional items for Old Judge Cigarettes. These cards weren't made to be art, but rather mass-produced collectibles, churned out alongside cigarettes in factories. Photography was key; the images likely captured in a studio, then reproduced using photolithography – a printing process that allowed for relatively cheap, high-volume production. This was the birth of trading cards, blurring lines between advertising, entertainment, and art. Consider the amount of labor involved in the tobacco and printing industries, both reliant on factory workers and global supply chains. A simple card reveals complex social and economic forces at play during the rise of consumer culture. Understanding the materials, manufacturing, and historical context allows us to see how even a humble baseball card can reflect the wider world.