The Countess of Dalhousie, from World's Beauties, Series 1 (N26) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This small card, part of a series made by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, features an image of the Countess of Dalhousie. It was printed using lithography, a process that allows for mass production of colorful images. Consider the material itself: thin paper, coated to accept the inks. These cards were included in cigarette packs as a bonus, a collectable that added value to the product. The company was based in Richmond, Virginia, which gives a sense of the historical context, just after the Civil War, when tobacco became a major industry in the American South. The image, though seemingly a simple portrait, speaks volumes about the era's aspirations and the rise of consumer culture. Lithography enabled the mass dissemination of images, blurring the lines between art, advertising, and everyday life. So, the Countess of Dalhousie wasn't just a portrait; she was a carefully crafted commodity, circulated and consumed as part of the smoking experience. Looking at this card, we can see how materials and making were deeply intertwined with social and economic forces.