Order of St. Michael, Bavaria, from the World's Decorations series (N30) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This 1890 chromolithograph, “Order of St. Michael, Bavaria”, was created by Allen & Ginter for their “World's Decorations” series of cigarette cards. The artwork depicts a detailed representation of the Order of St. Michael, a Bavarian order of chivalry. The card features a gold cross with a crown and a blue ribbon. The central medallion of the cross shows St. Michael, a popular figure in Christian art, defeating a dragon, a symbol of evil. The card's intricate design, with its use of color and detail, makes it an appealing piece of historical ephemera.