Demerara, from the Races of Mankind series (T181) issued by Abdul Cigarettes 1881

This small chromolithograph, printed by Abdul Cigarettes around the turn of the twentieth century, purports to depict a woman from Demerara, a historical region in what is now Guyana. As part of a series titled ‘Races of Mankind,’ it reflects the period’s fascination with cataloging human diversity, often through a lens of racial hierarchy and exoticism. The image uses visual shorthand—dark skin, elaborate jewelry—to signify ‘otherness.’ The term ‘Demerara’ itself evokes a place distant and unfamiliar to the presumed European or American consumer. Cigarette cards like these were not simply innocent collectibles; they circulated and reinforced ideas about race and empire, shaping popular perceptions of people and places far removed from the everyday lives of those who collected them. Understanding this image requires us to look beyond its surface. Through careful historical research, we can unpack the complex web of power, knowledge, and representation that produced it. The meaning of this image is contingent on its historical and institutional context.