Rowell, Pedestrian, from the Goodwin Champion series for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes 1888

This small chromolithograph of "Rowell, Pedestrian" was produced by Goodwin & Company as an advertisement for Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes. The image depicts a champion long-distance walker in his athletic gear, a medal pinned to his chest. These cards coincided with the rise of mass media and mass marketing in the United States. They were aimed at a broad public audience and aimed to promote a culture of consumerism. Here we see an example of the commercialization of sport. What is interesting here is that, while the sport and its champions appear to be celebrated, the card is ultimately about selling tobacco. Images like this reflect the social and economic values of the time and invite us to consider the relationship between commerce, leisure, and health. To delve deeper, one might research the history of advertising, the rise of professional sports, and the social impact of tobacco consumption in the late 19th century.