Order of Merit, Prussia, from the World's Decorations series (N44) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

"Order of Merit, Prussia, from the World's Decorations series (N44) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes," is a chromolithograph printed in 1890 by Allen & Ginter, a tobacco company known for their collectible trading cards. The card depicts a detailed illustration of the Prussian Order of Merit, a prestigious award established in 1842 by King Frederick William IV of Prussia. The design includes a central cross with a crown and eagles, surrounded by a blue enamel ring, and a black and white striped ribbon. The intricate ornamentation and vibrant colors typical of the era are characteristic of the card's aesthetic. The image was intended to be a part of a larger series of trading cards illustrating various military decorations from around the world. The card's small dimensions (7.3 x 8.3 cm) are typical of cigarette cards of this period. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City houses this piece of historical ephemera.