Amsterdam, from the City Flags series (N6) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This small chromolithograph card, part of a series by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, features Amsterdam's flag and cityscape. Produced during the boom of cigarette card collecting, this image wasn't made with artistic expression in mind, but rather mass consumption. Chromolithography allowed for the cheap reproduction of colorful images, capitalizing on a craze while simultaneously advertising the brand. The card exemplifies industrial printmaking, with each color carefully applied using lithographic stones. This process, though mechanized, still relied on skilled laborers to prepare the stones and operate the printing presses. The flag and its heraldic symbols, combined with a romantic view of the city, create a sense of place and aspiration. The card’s material and making speaks to the rise of consumer culture. Looking closely at this card reminds us that even seemingly trivial objects can tell us much about labor, value, and social life.