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Posted By: Jay Miller

Brian---I saw this earlier in the day. This same seller also has a George Wright tin type on ebay with no identification that it is Wright. As to the Mathews I want to do a little more research. My first response is to be skeptical but the picture does look like Mathews. Mathews, although his career ended in 1887, had no 1887 Old Judge card, only 1888 ones. I have never seen a Gypsy Queen card for which there is not an identical Old Judge card and since Gypsy Queens were only issued in 1887 and he had no 1887 Old Judge card and since this does not even correspond to any of the 1888 Old Judge poses I'm starting from the doubters camp. I guess, given what I have just said, that I don't know what this would be a proof of. It wouldn't have been of an issued Gypsy Queen.
There are several possibilities---it could have been done at some point later as some sort of commemorative. It could have been some sort of prototype which was not issued.
As I am typing I am thinking more...I have never seen a Goodwin product proof which was stamped PROOF. That also makes me a little leery. I also have never seen the manner of writing GYPSY QUEEN that is shown on the front of the "card". Gun to my head at this point I give it a thumbs down but, like I said, I want to do a little more research.