Massachusetts, from Flags of the States and Territories (N11) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

This small chromolithograph was produced by Allen & Ginter, a cigarette company from Richmond, Virginia, as part of a series of collectible cards featuring state flags. In representing Massachusetts, Allen & Ginter reproduced the state flag, complete with its colonial-era imagery. Most striking is the figure of a Native American man, bow in hand. Above him, a disembodied arm wields a sword. Beneath the image is a Latin motto which translates as: “By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.” The appropriation of indigenous imagery and the celebration of colonial conquest speak volumes about the political landscape of the late 19th century United States. Understanding this image requires historical research, considering the social and economic context of its production, including the history of tobacco and of American expansion.