Here is a Portrait of John L..., from the Magic Changing Cards series (N223) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company 1889

This is a tobacco card from the Magic Changing Cards series, produced by the Kinney Tobacco Company, sometime in the late 19th century. These cards, collected by smokers, offer a glimpse into the cultural values and social hierarchies of the time. The card depicts a portrait of John L., a "mighty man" according to the inscription. These cards were designed with a hidden image revealed when held to the light. It was a form of early advertising that doubled as entertainment. The Kinney Tobacco Company, like other businesses of the Gilded Age, played a role in shaping popular taste and promoting consumer culture. By examining such cards, we can learn about the social norms, celebrity culture, and the burgeoning advertising industry of the late 19th century. Historians can use trade catalogs, company records, and social commentaries of the period to understand the full context of these seemingly simple objects.