White Shield, Southern Cheyenne, from the American Indian Chiefs series (N36) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This is an 1888 card from the Allen & Ginter Cigarettes series, featuring White Shield, a Southern Cheyenne chief. The shield itself, prominently displayed, is not merely a tool of defense. It's a microcosm of Cheyenne cosmology. The circle symbolizes the universe, the four cardinal directions, and the cyclical nature of life. Consider the cross on his chest: a potent symbol, laden with spiritual weight across cultures. Here, the cross is likely part of Cheyenne regalia and represents the four directions, similar to that found in many other traditions worldwide. This same symbol appears in ancient Germanic and Norse art, each time carrying echoes of protection and cosmic order. These symbols remind us of the human need to map the world, to find order in chaos, and to protect ourselves from the unknown—a quest that transcends time and culture. The image embodies a shared human experience that continues to resonate, transformed, through ages.