The Trick Dog, from the Magic Changing Cards series (N223) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company 1889

The Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company produced this lithograph trade card, "The Trick Dog," as part of a series to promote their brand. These cards weren't just about selling tobacco, though; they offer us a glimpse into the social and cultural life of late 19th-century America. The image itself, with its clown and performing dog, speaks to the popularity of vaudeville and circus entertainment at the time. But it's also a commercial object, designed to circulate within a burgeoning consumer culture. The phrase "Hold to the light" suggests a hidden image or message, a clever marketing gimmick intended to engage consumers. To fully understand this card, we might turn to archives of advertising history, studies of popular entertainment, and research on the tobacco industry. Trade cards such as this, are artifacts that reflect the social and economic conditions of their time.