Peter Jackson N174 Gypsy Queen (1887–1888)

This card is considered the rookie card of Peter Jackson, a pioneering Black heavyweight boxer often referred to as "The Black Prince." It originates from the N174 Gypsy Queen Old Judge Cigarettes series, produced by Goodwin & Co. in the late 1880s. While some catalogs note 1887 as the production year, several reputable hobby guides and auction listings cite 1888, reflecting common discrepancies in the dating of pre-1900 tobacco cards. The card was issued soon after Jackson's arrival in America and is admired for its antique photographic style and fragile cardboard stock. Each card is unnumbered, featuring a sepia-tone image of Jackson posed in classic boxing attire. The meticulous detail captured by the old photographic process gives each specimen a unique vintage elegance. Only a handful of authenticated copies are known to exist, making this one of the true grails of 19th-century sports memorabilia.​

Peter Jackson was one of the finest boxers of his era, a fighter whose technical prowess and resilience transcended racial barriers at the height of the color line in boxing. Jackson arrived in America in 1888 and quickly claimed the World Colored Heavyweight Championship, but was denied the opportunity to challenge for the official World Heavyweight Title, most notably by John L. Sullivan who refused to fight Black contenders. Jackson's reputation was legendary among his peers, with contemporary champions openly admiring his skill and cunning. His exclusion from the world title is considered one of the most profound injustices in sports history. This card stands as one of the earliest mass-produced images of a Black athlete and a powerful reminder of both the brilliance and struggles faced by trailblazers in American sport.